Gauchos Lose Football Title Match in Final Minute 28-31

The El Cerrito High varsity football team ended an extraordinary season in the pouring rain tonight, Saturday, with a late fourth-quarter loss to Marin Catholic for the Division III championship of the North Coast Section.

An Analy View on the Gauchos-Analy Football Game

The post-game handshakes didn't happen after a notable amount of "trash-talking" in El Cerrito High's Nov. 23 victory over Analy High. But one Analy player made a special post-game effort to show consideration to the winning team.

ECHS Responds to Criticism of Football Team

The athletic director of El Cerrito High, George Austin, disputes a sports columnist's account accusing the Gauchos of unsportsmanlike conduct in their Friday playoff game agains Analy High School of Sebastopol.

Gauchos' Conduct Criticized by Sports Columnist

A Santa Rosa Press Democrat article accused the El Cerrito High football team of unsportsmanlike conduct in its Friday game, and a regional high school sports commissioner wrote to the El Cerrito principal about the issue.

'Urgent' Notice on Harding After-School Classes

The Harding Elementary School PTA says several of the after-school classes in the new session are under-enrolled and need more students. Classes are open to the public, not just Harding families.

Gauchos Beat Analy 40-20 – Advance to Finals for Championship

Two undefeated teams clashed on the gridiron Friday night, and at the end only one remained unbeaten. El Cerrito High advanced to the finals of the North Coast Section Division III championship after a 40-20 victory over Analy High of Sebastopol.

Meeting on Portola Academics Monday Night

The principal of Portola Middle School in El Cerrito, Matthew Burnham, will address the state of academics at the school at a meeting Monday night. Parents, potential future parents, teachers and other community members are all invited.

Full Steam Ahead for ECHS Debate & Speech Team

Did you know that being on the El Cerrito High Speech and Debate team can not only improve public speaking skills but also be a lot of fun? We thank the school paper El Cabellero and student Elia Chuaqui for her article about the team.

ECHS Theater Program Has Momentum – and a 2012-13 Season!

A special thanks to Tracy Giles for this guest feature on the revitalization of the drama program at El Cerrito High School. The program is seeking community support. Attend a show and buy Gauchos Coffee and a coffee mug for holiday gifts.

Hurricane Sandy Effort from Harding School

The PTA at Harding Elementary School in El Cerrito is sponsoring a project to help a elementary school that was victim to Hurricane Sandy in Island Park, New York. The PTA is collecting cards, letters, drawings and Target gift cards.

Gauchos Win Again, Advance to Semi-Finals in 19-7 Victory over Bishop O'Dowd

El Cerrito High's varsity football team increased its unbeaten streak this year to 12-0 with a wet 19-7 win over Bishop O'Dowd Saturday night. The team next plays Analy in the semi-finals for Division III schools in California's large Nor

Down at Last – Portola Edifice Now Rubble

The last stand of the old Portola Middle School in El Cerrito came to end Wednesday as the small remaining portion of main building was pulled down into the rubble. We thank contributor Betty Buginas for capturing the final fall on her video camera.

'Music Is Magic' – El Cerrito High's keCg Radio

El Cerrito Patch is glad to be able to republish this article from the most recent issue of the El Cerrito High School student newspaper, El Caballero. It was written by junior Emily Cain, with the photo by senior Zoey Wolinsky.

Gauchos Win 1st Playoff Game 56-8 over Fremont's Kennedy

El Cerrito High's varsity football team extended its undefeated season to 11-0 Saturday night by defeating John F. Kennedy HIgh's Titans 56-8 in the first game of the division championship playoffs.

New Inductees for ECHS Athletic Hall of Fame

New inductees to the El Cerrito High Athletic Hall of Fame include El Cerrito's mayor, a Richmond city councilman and several other outstanding former Gaucho athletes. It's the third class since the Hall began in 2009.

Windrush Sale Still in Limbo

The pending sale of the former Windrush School in El Cerrito to Educational Ventures, LLC is now set to close early next month, a representative for the buyer said. Still no word on the buyer's intentions for the 4-acre property.

Gauchos 'Home' Games at DeAnza for Football Playoffs

The division champion El Cerrito High football team will play its "home" playoff opener Saturday at DeAnza High in Richmond. Team coaches believe DeAnza's turf field is better for the team's fast runners, the ECHS principal said.

Not Much Longer – Portola Main Building Going, Going ...

The relentless steel jaws of demolition equipment at Portola Middle School in El Cerrito are finally chomping into the main course. The looming main building has has held out for weeks, but a visit Wednesday indicates it will soon loom no longer.

Gauchos Post Perfect Regular Season 10-0

The El Cerrito High varsity football team won their 10th straight game Friday night with a lopsided 60-6 victory over the St. Patrick-St. Vincent High Bruins to cap a 10-0 regular season and win the division championship.

Patch Election Guide for El Cerrito & Kensington

El Cerrito Patch offers this election guide for important decisions faced by El Cerrito and Kensington voters on the Nov. 6 ballot, including the school board race, measures for school funding, Kensington's governing board and state propositions.

Letter: Treat ECHS to Old Tennis Balls, Printer Cartridges

The PTSA at El Cerrito High is asking for donations of used tennis balls, binders and empty inkjet and toner cartridges. Thousands of tennis balls are wanted to put on the legs of desks and chairs.

Undefeated Gauchos Rout St. Mary's 57-6

The league-leading El Cerrito High varsity football team continued to steamroll their opponents Saturday with 57-6 victory over St. Mary's College High, giving the Gauchos a 9-0 season record and league record of 5-0.

Letter: Please Help Send My 5th Graders to Mars!

Christi Thomas, fifth grade teacher at Fairmont Elementary School in El Cerrito, is seeking donations to send her class to "Mars," which actually means a simulated astronaut trip, "Mission to Mars," at the Chabot Space and Science Ce

Teachers' Union Election Rally on San Pablo

The teachers union for West Contra Costa Schools, United Teachers of Richmond, held a rally on San Pablo Avenue in El Cerrito this past week for measures and candidates it supports. State Senator Loni Hancock spoke briefly in support.

Athletes Kept Sex Scorecards at Piedmont High

Piedmont High School Principal Rich Kitchens notified parents Friday of a "Fantasy Slut League" in which male varsity athletes collect points for sexual activity with female students, most of whom didn't know about it. No discipline is pl

Portola Demoliton – A Long Good-bye

Those who were expecting to see the old Portola Middle School in El Cerrito come down with climatic crushing blows from a giant wrecking ball may be waiting in vain. Demolition crews are chewing it down piece by piece with steel-jawed excavators.

In Their Own Words: School Board Candidates

If you're still pondering who should get your vote for West Contra Costa Unified School District school board, here are statements from the candidates plus a link to videos of their answers to questions at a candidates forum in El Cerrito.

School Districts to Destroy Recalled Peanut Butter

The California Department of Education announced Friday that school districts have been instructed to destroy stocks of recalled peanut butter linked to potential salmonella contamination.

Kensington's Judy Sanders – Elementary Principal of the Year for WCCUSD

The principal of Kensington Elementary School, Judy Sanders, has been named Principal of the Year for the West Contra Costa school district. Matthew Burnham of Portola Middle School just received the same honor for middle school principal.

New API Scores Released for Local Schools

The latest Academic Performance Index scores – released Thursday by state education officials – showed four schools in El Cerrito and Kensington improving from last year and two schools with lower scores. Portola posted the biggest increase.

School Board Hopefuls at Forum Thursday

Another forum for school board candidates for the West Contra Costa Unified School District will be held Thursday night at El Cerrito High School.

Instruction & Community Are Key, ECHS Principal Says

In a "State of the School" talk Monday outlining his "Vision for Academic Excellence" at El Cerrito High, Principal David Luongo stressed strategies for improving instruction and community at the school.

ECHS Football Players Don Pink Shoes for Breast Cancer Awareness

Five El Cerrito High football players showed up in pink shoes the day of the homecoming game, a gesture in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and in support coach Kenny Kahn's efforts in the battle against the disease.

'State of the School' Talk by ECHS Principal Monday

El Cerrito High School principal David Luongo will give a "State of the School" talk Monday night on a "Vision for Academic Excellence." The event takes place at 7 p.m. in the school library.

Gauchos Flatten Berean 59-6 in Homecoming Game

The El Cerrito High football squad crowned the school's homecoming celebrations Friday night by steamrolling the Berean Christian Eagles 59-6. The Gauchos are now 7-0 for the season and lead their division.

CAR WASH FUNDRAISER for Madera 6th Grade Science Camp

Genetically Modified Food -- Miracle or Menace?

HARVEST FAIRE

Green Portola Middle School Work Day

East West Free Clinic