Lake County Gazette

On March 26, the Westmore Elementary gym was filled with laughter, friendly competition, and snacks as families gathered for a Multilingual Family Game Night.

Organized by the District 45 Multilingual Department and the Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee, the event featured board games like Uno, Lotería, and Apples to Apples, along with puzzles and coloring activities.

Westmore ESL Teacher and event organizer Katherine Portilla said that the event offered an inclusive environment where families felt recognized, appreciated, and connected regardless of their home language.

“Watching the kids light up when they saw a game or greeting in their language was incredibly moving,” said Portilla.

Westmore parent Yevhennia Korchynska remarked that it was an excellent opportunity to spend an evening with friends and to share and learn about traditions and customs of different countries.

Korchynska and her fourth-grader Mariia Korchynska especially enjoyed a game of Who am I?, which Mrs. Korchynska found “funny, cheerful, and very interesting. ”

Overall, Portilla was pleased with the results of this first-time event and hopes for its growth.

“I’d love to see even more families involved, more languages represented, and more opportunities for our multilingual families to lead and share their voices,” said Portilla.

Thank you to all participating families and event staff for making this a memorable and successful event.