SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – An unexpected student at Coastal Empire Montessori Charter School is making his place in the classroom official.

Jax is the classroom pet in Patty Clancy and Jenny Stevens’ classroom, where they teach fourth and fifth graders. Jax recently had his official school portrait taken, just like the students and faculty.

Stevens said the children love having Jax in the classroom and take turns caring for him. She said he is just as involved in learning as the students are.

“During our silent reading time, the children take him out of his cage and let him roam,” Stevens said. “Sometimes he will sit on or with one of them. We have even caught Jax reading a book with a child!”

Jax is one of three school pets at the school. A cat, Ssori (short for Montessori) Coal Williams, serves as the school’s office assistant, while Stewie the dog spends every Friday playing and cuddling with the students. Both Ssori and Stewie got their photos taken for the yearbook as well.

Stevens said all three pets are a part of the CEMCS family.

“Of course,” Stevens said. “We had to have all of their pictures taken for the yearbook!”