Two years ago after making the transition from teaching science at William Chrisman High School to performing the same duties at South, Matt Heide started up the Reptile Club.

Heide sponsored the club during his years at William Chrisman in an endeavor to spark interest for students in extracurricular activities after noticing a lack thereof from much of the student body.

“We had a lot of students that seemed to not be involved in clubs that were interested in reptiles,” Heide said. “So my friend that helps me out and I decided, ‘let’s start and see where it goes.”

The club succeeded in sparking interest and Heide decided to bring the club with him in his move to South.

The club’s meetings consist of a guest speaker accompanied with a “guest animal.” The speaker will usually discuss topics such as the animal’s natural history and how to keep the animal (assuming it can be kept as a pet), as well as answer any questions members of the club might have regarding the animal. Heide also has a collection of reptiles of his own in his classroom that he says students can typically get out and handle.

Last year, the reptile club went on a trip to Costa Rica, and Heide says while he may be heading back to Costa Rica in the near future, the club’s next trip will likely be headed elsewhere.

“I’m hoping to convince the district to let us go visit the zoo or something,” Heide said.

The reptile club meets every other Thursday after school in room four, and anyone with an interest in reptiles or other animals is invited and encouraged to attend the meetings.