PLAN. PROTECT. PERSEVERE.
Serving El Cerrito Since 1941
THE LAW OFFICE OF
THOMAS MICHAEL LEE
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• Wills & Trusts
• Advance Health Care Directives
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(510)(510) 237- 629-1001
4321
Thomas M. Lee
Principal Attorney
11720 San Pablo Avenue, Suite C, El Cerrito, CA 94530
P.O. Box 1316 • El Cerrito, CA 94530
(Next to the El Cerrito Del Norte BART Station)
www.ebsan.com
www.thomasleelawyer.com
DECEMBER 2019 MARKETPLACECONTRACOSTA.COM 23
Hits the Wall!” There was a Friday night
dance, reminiscent of dances in the
1950s and 1960s. On Saturday there was
a citywide parade, a celebration on the
sports field, tours of the old school, and
a sale of extra items that were salvaged
from the old buildings. The event
concluded on Sunday with more tours,
sales of artifacts, and an assembly in the
gymnasium. Community members and
former students came from as far as
New York City to attend the weekend
event.
“Green & White: The Gaucho
Story”
During the planning meetings for the
Wrecking Ball event, it was suggested
a slideshow of photos be created to
showcase the 60-year history of the
school. One of the alumni volunteered
to expand the idea and created a Ken
Burns-style documentary. Past graduates
from 1940 to 2005 were interviewed
and their stories included in the film.
“Green & White: The Gaucho Story”
premiered during the weekend event. In
2007, the documentary won Honorable
Mention at the Berkeley Film Festival.
A DVD of the film is available for
purchase.
Formation of the Archiving Project
The ECHS Archiving Project was an
outgrowth of the weekend event. Several
people met to discuss the outcome from
all the activities, and the work that had
been accomplished the previous year
preserving the history of the school. It
was decided to form a permanent group
to continue the work and also provide
scholarships to students.
The new campus and museum
The new buildings opened in 2009,
with a 600-sq. ft. museum located next
to the main lobby of the school. The
museum is now open during school
hours and has a display of permanent
and rotating historical items and artifacts.
Additionally, several display cabinets
were placed throughout the school
with more items, and a large Sports
Wall of Fame was created in the lobby
between the cafeteria and gymnasiums.
Through the years the archiving project
has maintained the museum, cleaning
display cases and adding new displays.
Beginning this year the museum has
begun exhibiting historical items and
artifacts from a single decade. Currently
the 1940s are highlighted. In the future
other decades will be highlighted on a
rotating basis. Visitors are encouraged to
come and see the museum.
Shadi Holiday Display
The Archiving Project also helps carry
on one of El Cerrito’s fondest traditions,
the Shadi Holiday Display. In the 1950s
Sundar Shadi, an immigrant from India,
started building a miniature re-creation
of Bethlehem. Although he was not a
Christian, he created buildings, animals,
and people out of plaster of paris and
stucco, and placed them on a vacant lot
next to his home in the El Cerrito hills.
Through the years the display grew, as
more than 150 figures and buildings
were added. Several years after Mr. Shadi
passed away, the El Cerrito Soroptimists
began setting up the figures on a large
swath of vacant PG&E land. The site is
in an easily accessible location which
includes stunning views of the Bay
Area. The Archiving Project helps act as
caretakers and docents for the display,
which continues to be a much-treasured
Holiday tradition for people in the Bay
Area.
Cultural diversity of the school
A company called Niche, which is a
recognized source of
statistics on schools, ranks
El Cerrito High School
as the 6th most diverse
public high school in
California, out of 2,435
schools. A wide variety
of languages are spoken
among the student
body. The school is
inclusive and students are
encouraged to develop
friendships with all.
Student achievement
Teachers and staff continue to pass on
the legacy and traditions of the school,
and strive to provide students with the
best education possible. The success of
their hard work is best displayed by their
achievements. Many have gone on to
prestigious schools such as Harvard, Yale,
Stanford, UC Berkeley, and numerous
other private colleges and public
universities. The school also prides itself
with several graduates from more than
one generation of the same family, and
there are at least twenty students who
graduated from the school and came
back in later years as teachers.
Ongoing Archiving activities
The Archiving Project continues to
interact with the school. Its members
maintain the museum displays, work
towards providing scholarships for
deserving students, and publish an
online newsletter. The group also
functions as a liaison to the city,
providing speakers for various functions
(e.g. the Rotary Club), hosting a booth
at local city festivals, and promoting the
high school wherever it can.
Any interested parents, community
members, or alumni are welcome to join
the group and help continue the efforts
to promote El Cerrito High School.
There will always be a need to help and
encourage students for they represent
the future. Any investment in the school
and the students is a win/win.
TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR ONLINE NEWSLETTER: EMAIL TO ECARCHPROJECT@AOL.COM
