Lotería Night Brings Culture, by Abigail Brooks - City News Group, Inc.

Community Calendar

SEPTEMBER
S M T W T F S
31 01 02 03 04 05 06
07 08 09 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 01 02 03 04
View Events
Submit Events

Lotería Night Brings Culture,

By Abigail Brooks
Community Writer
09/24/2025 at 03:04 PM

Terrace Hills Middle School recently hosted a Lotería Night that brought families together for an evening filled with tradition, fun, and meaningful connections. With a great turnout of students, parents, staff, and community members, the event was nothing short of a success.

Guests enjoyed playing Lotería, the traditional Mexican bingo game, while sharing laughter and conversation. The energy in the room was contagious, as families cheered each other on and celebrated wins with smiles and applause even ties too. Prizes were donated by Loud Burger in Grand Terrace and the Grand Terrace Cultural Actives Committee.

Of course, no community event is complete without great food. Families were treated to fresh hot churros, elotes, nachos, horchata, conchas, jícama, and fresh fruit seasoned with chamoy and Tajín—plus plenty of candy for the kids. Ms.Ebony Harris head of nutrition at THMS even donated her time to make sure everything was prepared properly. The spread created the perfect mix of comfort and culture, making the night even more memorable.

Between games and snacks, Veronica Meiners, Wellness Center Coordinator, gave an engaging presentation on important student issues including sleep, anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders, and internet safety. She also highlighted the school’s very own Zen Wellness Center—a safe and welcoming space on campus where students can visit during lunch or take a short break during the day with a pass. The center provides vital support for student well-being while helping break the stigma around asking for help. Reannin Weisnstein from South Coast Community services even had a fun wheel spin giveaway booth with more resources. The event was even attended by Dr.Nyree Clark who oversees equity and access for CJUSD.

The evening continued with plenty of prizes for both kids and adults. In one of the night’s most exciting moments, Principal Mrs. Afadonis even joined in a tie-breaker dance-off, showing her school spirit and bringing lots of laughter to the crowd.

Mrs.Salazar gave her heartfelt thanks to the volunteers from Key Club at Grand Terrace High School and the THMS staff and students whose hard work and organization made the night such a success. Staff, families, and even alumni came out to enjoy the event, reminding everyone of the strong bonds that connect Terrace Hills Middle School to the wider community. Guest were already looking forward to next year!

Events like Lotería Night showcase the heart of Terrace Hills—a school that celebrates culture, builds community, and supports its students in every way. Don’t miss out, stay connected by following your school’s community liaison to hear about more exciting events in the future. Mrs.Salazar can be reached at (909) 580-5022 ext 8163 or follow her  on social media Facebook mrssalazar and Instagram communitywithmrssalazar