COEUR d'ALENE - Angie Beck has been teaching most of the culinary courses at Venture High School for 24 years and commands the respect of her students.

However, the stern-when-she-needs-to-be instructor's eyes filled with tears when she spoke to The Press about the importance of the school's Thanksgiving Feast - a tradition at Venture for 35 years.

"It gives our kids a chance to work together as a functional family," Beck said. "It's a big deal for our kids; they take it really seriously and take a lot of pride in the food they make."

The cafeteria, which was festively decorated by students in the school's Early Childhood Development Program, was filled Wednesday afternoon with students, faculty, school board members, probation and diversion officers and many others.

"Basically we invited everyone in the community that plays a role here in our school," said Mike Lindquist, principal of the school. "A lot of families don't take the time to sit down and have a meal together. We think of everyone here as a family so it's really great to do this."

The meal itself is a collaboration between the efforts of Beck's students, the kitchen staff, and other faculty members. Hungry attendees were treated to a feast of turkey, stuffing, potatoes, pie and more.

Getting the students involved in the preparation of the turkey meal gives them the ability to showcase the skills they've learned and will use when they enter the workforce, Lindquist said.

"But we make it about family at the same time," Lindquist said. "This feast allows us to focus on both of those things."

Tailer Smith, a junior at Venture, was one of the students who worked for a month planning and preparing the meal in Beck's class. The 17-year-old has been at the school for three years and said the culinary course is her favorite.

With a glimmer of pride in her eyes she spoke of the Thanksgiving Feast and echoed the common theme of family that was heard throughout the halls of Venture on Wednesday.

"It's so much better than going to a bigger school because we can actually all connect and talk with each other," Smith said.

With the preparation complete and the cafeteria filled with eager eaters, Lindquist gave an apple cider toast and wished everyone a happy Thanksgiving. Venture High School teachers and staff members were in charge of serving food from table and table.

Between stints serving food, math instructor Andi Banks told The Press that teachers serving the students the meal is an important part of the tradition because it shows their appreciation.

"I love making memories and they will definitely always remember this. This is something they can tell their grandkids about," Banks said. "For some of the kids this is the only Thanksgiving dinner they will get and serving them is a way to show them that we are like a little family here."

Weston Krieg, 14, was eagerly awaiting his meal and said he likes that no one at the school is in cliques and hates each other, especially during the Thanksgiving Feast.

"We all get together and are nice to each other," Krieg said. "We hang out like family."