Parkmont has a new school pet! Specifically, a juvenile albino cornsnake named Cornelius. Thank you to Annabelle for making such a persuasive case for a pet snake, and to Gabo, who coordinated bringing Cornelius and all the necessary equipment to school. Cornelius was only about 10” when he first moved into the Southeast Room in November. By February 1, he’d almost doubled in size. If Cornelius is male, which we think is likely, he’ll be about 3’ long when fully grown. Why a pet snake? They’re easy to take care of, they aren’t venomous, they’re interesting, and, importantly, no one has snake allergies! Students have found that watching him for a few minutes can help them calm down or refocus during class. He has already figured in many class stories and lessons. For those of us who grimace at the thought of snakes, Cornelius has proven to be a charismatic ambassador of Serpentes. He’s just so cute!
