Have you ever wondered what a German school in Brazil might be like? Right here in Morumbi, São Paulo, stands the Colégio Visconde de Porto Seguro, also known as CVPS. Originally founded in 1878 as the Deutsche Schule (German School), its history intertwines German and Brazilian cultures. Initially located in a rented building in downtown São Paulo, the school embarked on a journey of growth and transformation. Emperor Dom Pedro II himself visited the burgeoning institution in 1886, a testament to its growing prominence. In 1913, the Colégio Visconde de Porto Seguro moved to its own premises on Rua Olinda, now Praça Roosevelt, a site now occupied by Escola Estadual Caetano de Campos. Further expansion led to new units in Consolação and Barra Funda.
World War II brought upheaval. The school had to abandon German language instruction. The former director, Gustaf Adolf Hoch, and eleven other German teachers were arrested. The name changed first to Ginásio Brasileiro-Alemão (German-Brazilian Elementary School), then to Colégio Visconde de Porto Seguro. This honored Francisco Adolfo de Varnhagen, the Visconde de Porto Seguro, a historian and diplomat of German-Brazilian heritage.
By 1950, Colégio Visconde de Porto Seguro was thriving again. The current Morumbi campus opened in 1974, nestled amidst native Atlantic Forest. The renowned German musician Karl Richter directed the school choir. In 1982, West German President Karl Carstens visited. That same year, a second unit opened in Valinhos, catering to the German immigrant community there. To meet increasing demand, the Panamby unit opened in 1997, with German Vice Chancellor Joschka Fischer in attendance.
The Colégio Visconde de Porto Seguro celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2003 with a grand event at the nearby Estádio do Morumbi. Over 46,000 people attended, including Brazilian singer Fafá de Belém, who performed the school anthem. Two “Portinhos” (Little Portos), essentially daycare centers, were established. One opened near the Panamby unit in 2002, the other within the Morumbi unit in 2007, replacing a former parking lot. In 2010, Portinho Valinhos opened. The school also started the Escola da Comunidade Vila Andrade, offering free education to children from low-income families. This exemplifies the Colégio Visconde de Porto Seguro’s dedication to community engagement. The Colégio Visconde de Porto Seguro stands as a testament to cultural exchange and educational excellence.