When Village School sat down for its annual sharing feast on Nov. 23, the school's teachers, parents and students had many reasons to be thankful.

The K-5 school, which has provided a parent-participation program in the Campbell Union School District for a decade, had its highest enrollment during the 2004-05 year--171 students.

This year the school had also adjusted to its new campus, which it shares with Capri School.

Last year, Principal Katie Middlebrook described the new campus as a "lunar landscape" bare of trees and grass. But this year, Middlebrook says the campus was lively and warm, as parents helped set up tables, children arranged chairs and grandparents came through the doors.

"People come out of the walls and set up this huge feast," parent and school educational associate Misty Vojvoda said. "It's unbelievable, like magic."

Each child brought one family member to the feast and a dish to share, for a total of 350 people. Middlebrook said school traditions such as the sharing feast foster a positive community across grades, generations and cultures.

The sharing feast began a decade ago when the school had only 34 students in two classrooms. Students participate in everything from making food to preparing the entertainment. One class, for example, makes the mashed potatoes, and another the dessert. These dishes are then shared with the entire school and their families.

The school's music program, which began three years ago using the Orff Shulwerk method, is also part of the feast. The method is child-centered, allowing children to express themselves creatively through song, dance, percussion instruments and xylophones. The method also focuses on multicultural music.

"I really wanted to honor Native American history and tradition because that's where Thanksgiving came from," music teacher Kristin Engineer said.

Engineer taught the children several tribal songs that focused on dances that dealt with working and eating. Music teacher Chris Prodife also taught the children European folk songs. The combination represented the coming together of Native Americans and Europeans immigrants in a Thanksgiving feast.

Parent Alex Ramirez added to this year's ceremony by performing a traditional Native American dance. Ramirez's father, a storyteller, also told tales of how fire began.

The feast is an example of community connection.

"It lets the children know that what they're doing is important, which is crucial in education," Middlebrook says.