In 1975, if you had come up Enos Lane where Salesian Elementary & Junior High School now stands, you would have found nothing but a steep slope, a lot of brush, and a few dilapidated apple trees, remnants of an old orchard that dated back to 1883.

Up to 1975, the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco had owned and occupied the historic Sesnon-Porter home in Aptos, where they ran a high school for candidates and a thriving summer camp. But Cabrillo Community College needed the property for expansion, and the Sisters had to sell. That’s when, relying on God’s help, they discovered and purchased that hidden-away, undeveloped plot of land in the foothills of Corralitos.

By 1976, the Sisters, had transformed their scrubby hillside. They had built four multipurpose cabins, a kitchen, and a cafeteria, basketball and tennis courts, a swimming pool, and a playfield. A novitiate to train young women wanting to become Sisters was established and a summer camp started. Thus, “Mary Help of Christians Youth Center” was born. A convent with living quarters for the Sisters still lay on the drawing board. It was to be the next project.

As people became aware of the Salesian Sisters’ presence in Corralitos, and realizing that they were educators whose specific ministry was teaching and other youth work, an increasing number began to urge the Sisters to expand their early childhood center into a full-scale school, pointing out the need for a second Catholic School for the fast-growing population of Pajaro Valley. As a result, the plans for building a Sisters’ residence were scrapped, and the Sisters requested and received permission to build a school and chapel in its stead. At first, there was serious talk of establishing a middle school only, but the parents involved would not hear of it. It was finally decided to have a K-8 school, but to begin with Grades 5 through 8, plus kinder and Grade 1, and to fill in the gap year by year. The Sisters would have to wait another 12 years for their convent, but they had the joy of seeing the school building completed and open for business by September 1, 1978.

This year (2008-2009) Salesian School begins its 30th year of existence. God’s blessings, and many sacrifices on the part of the Sisters and lay teachers, as well as of the school’s friends and patrons, have brought the school into existence and have kept it going over the years, but the cooperation of all and the accomplishments and spirit of the students have made it all worthwhile.