History & Philosophy

On June 29, 1884, Archbishop Alemany dedicated the original Church of Saints Peter and Paul located at Filbert and Dupont (now Grant Avenue). In March of 1897, a team of four Salesians, led by Fr. Raffaele Piperni, SDB, began its work among the Italian immigrants in that Church. Two years after the destruction of the original Church by the 1906 earthquake and fire, Archbishop Riordan supported the Salesians in their efforts to purchase the Abe Ruef property on Filbert Street, opposite Washington Square. The Church and School, as we know them today, were built on that site.

In September of 1925, Salesian Grammar School for boys opened with two classes, the Fifth and Sixth grades. The intention was to add a class each scholastic year up to the third year of High School. The first two instructors were lay persons who each taught thirty pupils the standard academic subjects, along with religion, music, and the Italian language. During the years that followed, the Salesian Brothers and Priests assumed responsibility for teaching. Not being able to accommodate girls, the Salesians encouraged them to attend the Presentation Convent School at the corner of Pacific Avenue and Mason Street.

Salesian Grammar School had its first eighth grade class graduation in June 1928. By 1929, all grammar school classes and the first two years of high school were offered by Salesian School. In 1930, due to the Depression and the lack of funds, the high school was closed. Archbishop Hanna and Fr. Trinchieri made arrangements for the Sisters of the Presentation, while residing at their convent, to assume the teaching positions in grades one through eight at Salesian School. The Presentation Sisters continued their dedicated service to the two schools and community until June 1950.

With the closing of Presentation Convent School for Girls, and the subsequent withdrawal of the Sisters, the task of educating the Catholic youth in North Beach – the Italian Quarter – was left to the Salesians. Out of necessity, Saints Peter and Paul Grammar School became coeducational.

In August 1950, eight Sisters of the order of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, also known as the Salesian Sisters, arrived in San Francisco. Sr. Letizia Sampo, FMA, was appointed Principal of Saints Peter and Paul Salesian School. These Sisters, along with three Salesian Fathers, taught the eleven classes with an enrollment of 465 students. Classes were reduced to eight in 1952, with an average of 50 students per class. In September of 1956, Kindergarten was added and the first lay teacher joined the faculty.