#BetterTogether: Class Act with Chris Wragge finds talent on full display at Newark Arts High School
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NEWARK, N.J. -- Students at Newark Arts High School are great at what they do, and the school helps set them on the right course.
CBS New York's Class Act with Chris Wragge spent the morning at the first public arts school in the country.
Meet the highly motivated students and the incredible team supporting them.
See live updates from our morning below.
All smiles bright and early
Determined to chase their dreams
These students are so talented and keep striving to perfect their craft and pursue their careers. So what's it like to teach them?
"Their energy is really, really wonderful and they always come in wanting to increase, increase, increase. So it's much easier than creating, because they're doing the creating," drama teacher Carl Gonzalez told Wragge.
A "blessing" and "dream come true"
Taking their talents to the big stage
Some incredible role models have walked these halls, including Sarah Vaughan, Melba Moore, Connie Francis, Tichina Arnold and Michael B. Jordan.
On top of that, the school prides itself on getting its students out in the real world the nurture their talent.
"It is important that our artist scholars know that their possibilities are endless," Principal Devonne Denose told Wragge.
For vocal major Julia Rocha, Carnegie Hall was a highlight.
"It's something completely different than just singing here at school or singing here at church. But it was an amazing experience, and I really enjoyed it," she said.
Film students just returned from a trip to the Sundance Film Festival.
"We actually got to do a Q&A with some of the directors, so I got to ask them how their experience was and kind of feel for myself if this is something I really want to pursue or not," said TV production major Mia Symone Clark.
Michael B. Jordan shared a message for the students, telling them to find their purpose.
"If I can reach it, you can reach it," he said.
Halls alive with sound of music
Students walking the halls at Newark Arts High School are highly motivated. Everywhere you look, you see them living out their dreams.
"Being a journalist and being a fashion influencer on Instagram and TikTok, I actually want to do these things. So taking the tools from the classroom and being able to put that forth into the content that I'm creating has been unbelievable. I've seen results, not only from my teacher, but in real time with my audience," one student told Wragge.
"It's such a space of positivity, and I love my major, I love what I do, and it's something that I want to go into when I get older," said another student.
I find a lot of inspiration from a lot of things that surround me. That's why I came here, because there's art everywhere," added another.
The school offers everything, and its leader, Principal Devonne Denose, knows what she's doing.
"They are my why, they are why I do it. They are amazing. They're so talented. And so it is an honor to serve in this role," she told Wragge.
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