The Salesian School of São José was opened in 1936 to provide agricultural education to needy young people. Work on the main building started in 1948 and it was inaugurated on 25 May 1953. The school offered courses in mechanics, carpentry, shoemaking, tailoring, printing and agriculture. Later it was found necessary to extend its educational scope and it was decided to transform it in such a way as to give an integral education to children and teenagers.
The educational community of San José at Campinas includes not only the school, but also the Technical School (ETEC) and the centre of the Salesian University (UNISAL Campinas São José), the Nossa Senhora Auxiliadora school and parish, UNISAL Salesian High School, the São João Bosco social work and the São João Bosco parish.
In recent days the South and Southeast regions of the country have been strongly affected by a tornado which was preceded by heavy rains. 92.7 mm of rain fell in the space of 72 hours where the average for a month is 50 mm.
The worst of the bad weather came on Sunday morning 5 June with 74 mm of rain and hail. The rain was accompanied by wind gusts and lightning, culminating in a tornado that has severely affected the districts of San Quirino, Souzas and Taquaral, where the Salesian school is located.
Campinas Civil Protection reported that more than 70 trees were uprooted and two energy towers, damaging more than 100 thousand homes.
The Salesian School of São José suffered damage to some of the buildings and the educational community has suspended classes to allow for repairs.
