Saint Joseph Regional High School

Mission Statement

St. Joseph Regional High School, under the auspices of the Archdiocese of Newark, is a college preparatory school for young men founded in the Xaverian tradition of Catholic education. The school strives to develop the fullness of the student’s God-given potential, intellectually, spiritually, morally, physically and emotionally, in a nurturing Christian environment. This family atmosphere is an integral part of the teaching and learning process as the school seeks to form the “Vir Fidelis”, the Faithful Man who possesses a commitment to living and proclaiming he Gospel of Jesus Christ. In realizing its mission, the school counts as its graduates students who can thing critically, act responsibly, lead ethically, serve generously and emulate humbly the example of its patron, St. Joseph.

Belief Statements

At Saint Joseph Regional High School, we believe that the following principles lie at the heart of the school’s mission:

• Students best mature and develop a sense of accomplishment in an intimate community where the unique gifts and talents of each individual are recognized and nurtured.
• The foundation for long-term scholastic growth and success is a demanding academic program that also develops organizational skills, encourages problem-solving and promotes effective communication.
• Students must come to understand the richness of the spiritual and liturgical traditions of the Church, and bring life to those traditions through service to others and active Catholicity.
• In order to grow intellectually, students must feel both challenged and encouraged in a safe environment where the ideas of all are welcomed and respected.
• In all of their actions, the members of the school community strive to conduct themselves with fairness, equity and dignity, and to maintain a moral and spiritual code of conduct that is rooted in the Gospel values.
• Students must come to understand the responsibilities that freedom entails, and develop the leadership and participation skills necessary to fulfill the ideals of justice and service to one’s country.
• Education develops all aspects of an individual: intellectual, spiritual, physical, emotional. Crucial to this process is a diverse and challenging program of interscholastic athletics and a comprehensive activities program, including the fine arts, that nurtures each individual’s unique talents.

Statement of Philosophy

St. Joseph Regional High School is very much driven by the charisma of the Xaverian Brothers, the religious order which formally administered the school from its inception in 1962 until 1997. Founded by Theodore James Ryken in 1839, the Xaverian Brothers have always been a teaching order, one whose mission it has been to bring the Word of God to individuals in formation, either through missionary work or education.

Thus, Saint Joseph Regional High School is an academic community where students develop a sense of self-worth and accomplishment through the recognition of each individual’s gifts and talents. Though its admissions process is selective and its expectations demanding, the school seeks to educate students of varying academic abilities and to develop a culture where all are able to succeed. The school provides its students with the foundation for long-term academic growth and success through a rigorous college preparatory program, study skills instruction, an emphasis on a disciplined work ethic and a commitment to life long-learning.

Essential to its mission as a Catholic school, Saint Joseph Regional High School acknowledges a responsibility to pass on to its students the richness of our spiritual and liturgical traditions so as to aid them in their formation as individuals, husbands, fathers and future care-takers of our Deposit of Faith. Specifically, it is through a rich tradition of Catholic education, community service and retreats that students are provided with a variety of opportunities to explore and serve the Church, the community and each other.

Essential to its mission as a college preparatory institution, Saint Joseph Regional High School provides a safe, structured environment where students are both encouraged and challenged to grow intellectually through the efforts of a concerned, dedicated and experienced faculty. The school develops in each student the capacity for critical thinking and the confidence and skills necessary to communicate effectively in speech and writing. In this effort, the school instructs its students in the technology they will need to be successful in a rapidly changing world, not as a replacement for critical thinking, but rather, as a tool to facilitate that thought.

Above all else, Saint Joseph Regional High School is an institution where the values of family and community are paramount. This emphasis on family is an appropriate reflection of the school’s patron, St. Joseph. Just as Joseph, as head of the Holy Family, nurtured and protected Mary and his son, Jesus so too does the school seek to cultivate its graduates as true men of faith, its “Vir Fidelis” whose dignity and selflessness are worthy of the respect of others. These faithful men should bear witness to Jesus Christ as practicing Catholics, uphold the values of freedom and the responsibilities of leadership in their community, contribute to the betterment of their fellows through the utilization of their education and demonstrate the true generosity of the gospel message by committing themselves to the service of others.

Graduate Profile

It is our hope that, as a result of his education at Saint Joseph Regional High School, a graduate will live his Catholic faith by

• Bearing witness to Jesus Christ for all to see as a practicing Catholic
• Embracing the influence of God in every aspect of his life
• Recognizing the need to serve God through others and His church
• Maturing in his commitment to his faith over the course of his live Passing on, through word and example, the heritage of faith to future generations
  

…..a graduate will demonstrate the quality of his education by

• Mastering a rigorous college preparatory curriculum
• Developing disciplined work habits and study skills
• Thinking critically and communicating effectively Developing his own gifts and talents as a life-long learner
  

…..a graduate will exhibit the attributes of a leader by

• Upholding the value of freedom and accepting the responsibility it brings
• Working cooperatively with others for the good of all
• Defending the God-given uniqueness of every individual
• Taking an active role in serving his community
  

…..a graduate will commit himself to family by

• Modeling himself on St. Joseph as a man of dignity, selflessness And obedience to God
• Being open, like St. Joseph, to the possibility of serving His Father as a husband and father in his own family or through a commitment to Religious life
• Establishing himself as a role model to admire by conducting himself with Honor and integrity in all things
• Maintaining an active relationship as an alumnus with is extended family of Classmates, teachers and friends

…..a graduate will reflect the values of personal honesty and concern for others by

• Having the humility to recognize his own failings and the strength to rely on others for help
• Having the insight to recognize his own strengths and the compassion to offer his help to those who are in need