New Jersey City University and A. Harry Moore Laboratory School to Hold Ribbon-Cutting on October 30 to Launch ‘LIFT’ Program

JERSEY CITY, N.J. | New Jersey City University (NJCU) and the A. Harry Moore Laboratory School (AHM) will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, October 30 at 10:30 a.m. to formally introduce and launch the A. Harry Moore School Life Independence and Future Transitions (LIFT) program at NJCU’s Grossnickle Hall.

NJCU has transformed the first floor of Grossnickle Hall on campus — located adjacent to John F. Kennedy Boulevard and across the street from the full A. Harry Moore School, to expand and further the decades-long relationship between the university and the special needs school. AHM offers comprehensive academic, therapeutic, pre-vocational and social programs for students classified as Preschool Disabled, Learning and Language Disabled, and Multiply Disabled.

Academic leaders from NJCU, AHM — including NJCU Interim President Andrés Acebo and Jason Jusino, School Principal at A Harry Moore — and the Jersey City Board of Education, along with local elected officials are expected to attend and participate in the event. The ribbon-cutting will be held outside Grossnickle Hall in Raines Plaza, located between Hepburn Hall and the Congressman Frank J. Guarini Library. Jusino will be offering tours of the LIFT program facility after the ceremony.

The LIFT program at Grossnickle Hall is a comprehensive initiative designed to empower high school and adult transition students with special needs, aged 15-21,  to ensure those with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) in a special education setting are well-prepared for adulthood. The LIFT program will equip these students with the tools necessary for a successful transition. The goals include facilitating secure employment, encouraging further educational pursuits, promoting independent living skills, and building confidence and competence in daily life.

The LIFT program offers not only tailored and individualized instruction but also replicates experiences found in a typical high school setting. This includes departmentalizing, which allows students to transition between teachers and classrooms, fostering a more dynamic learning environment. 

The LIFT program is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including a culinary arts room and a consumer and family science room, where students can practice real-life and independent living skills. Additionally, it provides career technical education (CTE) and community-based instruction (CBI) opportunities in Jersey City and on the NJCU campus. This well-rounded approach ensures that eligible students are well-prepared for adulthood. The program is vital as it addresses the unique challenges faced by special needs students. 

This event is open to the public. In the event of rain, the ceremony will be held in NJCU's Gothic Lounge in Hepburn Hall Room 202. 

Media Contact/RSVP:
Ira Thor
Associate Vice President of University Communications and Marketing
New Jersey City University
ithor@njcu.edu 

About NJCU:
New Jersey City University is a comprehensive public regional institution committed to providing a high-quality education to a diverse student population. Located in Jersey City, New Jersey, NJCU offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for learning, professional development, and community engagement. Recognized as a top university for improving upward economic social mobility, students enrolled in our undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral programs have access to an affordable, diverse environment, and an exceptionally supportive faculty. This prepares them to go on to become the next generation of workers and leaders who improve their communities and the State of New Jersey.

About the A. Harry Moore School:
A. Harry Moore School, a team-driven, multidisciplinary demonstration and laboratory school, is a professional community of living and learning based on shared leadership, collaborative approaches, and research-based practice. They provide support to its students in developing independent living skills as well as access to academic, physical, therapeutic, social, and emotional growth opportunities so that students may achieve their fullest potential in school and beyond.