Students, faculty and staff were all smiles as they welcomed State School Superintendent John Barge to the Newton College and Career Academy for the first time Tuesday.

Students in NCCA’s culinary arts program prepared a lunch for Barge, his staff and Newton County School System officials. The group dined on salad, roast beef tenderloin and stuffed chicken, with a side of rice pilaf and asparagus, and chocolate mousse for dessert.

After the meal, NCCA principal James Woodard and school officials led Barge and his staff on a tour of the school, where instructors and students discussed the benefits of taking classes at the academy.

Barge visited horticulture, construction, transportation and automotive classes, as well as the broadcast and video production lab.

Barge asked students what they liked most about the career academy and how it changed their career goals.

They told him that hands-on classes help them learn; that they enjoy meeting a variety of people, including students from all of Newton County’s high schools; and that NCCA has helped them determine which career paths they really enjoy.