November means it’s time to get ready for Thanksgiving.

At least it does for students and staff at West Park, Sunset, Highland Hills, Rocky Heights and Desert View Elementary Schools. The schools are inviting parents and grandparents to come in a little early to enjoy a “Fall Feast” with their children.

Sunset principal Devin Grigg said the “Fall Feasts” in previous years had been held the Thursday before Thanksgiving.

“This year they’re throughout the month to lessen the burden on the kitchen staffs so they can focus on individual schools,” he said.

At Sunset, the school’s “Fall Feast” will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday in the school cafeteria.

It’s a long standing tradition for all of the schools in the district, with the elementary schools having held the feasts for nearly 20 years, Highland Hills secretary Cathy Michael said.

Grigg said the feasts, which are open to relatives, are a good way of bringing the community into the schools.

“It helps us connect with the families so we can build trust with them,” he said. “Because we all have the same goal, which is to teach kids.”

It’s also a fun time for everyone, Desert View principal Mike Scott said.

“I help serve food (usually turkey gravy over mashed potatoes with a dessert) and some of the parents help serve, too,” he said.

Scott said though it’s the students who probably have the most fun.

“They love it because they can bring their parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters in and have lunch with them,” he said.

Parents are asked to contact the schools prior to their feast day so the kitchen staff know how many people they will need to serve.