Dear Friends,
Someone recently asked me what I was most proud of about our school. My first thought was: "where do I begin?" Academics, athletics, activities, service programs - there is so much going on around campus, that it is truly hard to single out one thing.
And then I thought: that is exactly the thing I am most proud of - the fact that St. Joe's offers opportunities to a student body that has tremendously diverse interests and talents.
Since St. Joe's opened its doors in 1962, its philosophy has always reflected the ideals of its first administrators, the Xaverian Brothers, who believed that the high school experience should include a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum, a competitive slate of interscholastic sports, a wide-range of student activity programs and, of course, a family foundation that encourages its students to be men of faith and Christian example.
Today, as we begin our forty-ninth year of excellence in Catholic education, all of those traditions are still alive and well at SJR. Our most recent graduating class exemplified the goal of academic excellence with a 100% college acceptance rate and more than 9.5 million dollars in scholarship opportunities. The Class of 2010 included five Advanced Placement Scholars, one AP Scholar with Distinction, two National Hispanic Scholars, 34 National Honor Society members and more than three dozen students who earned Presidential citations for their academic achievements.
Athletically, our thirteen athletic programs continue to compete, with great success, at the highest levels in the state of New Jersey, despite our being a smaller school than many of our competitors. SJR captured 2009-10 league titles in football, basketball, wrestling and baseball, as well as a state championship in football.
Artistically, our music and theatre program has received national recognition from USA Today and Good Day New York, as well as a host of accolades from local programs including the Montclair State High School Theatre Awards, the Metropolitan H.S. Theatre Awards and the PaperMill Playhouse Rising Star Awards.
Our chorus and jazz band provide an additional showcase for the musical talents of our students. Our 2010 Mock Trial team enjoyed exceptional success, while our 2009 school yearbook took top honors in the annual American Scholastic Press Association competition and our television station, WSJR, rose to a new level in 2010 in partnership with MSG Varsity.
Most importantly, our campus ministry program continues to grow with its annual schedule of student retreats, liturgies, outreach and service projects. In 2010, much of our focus has been on a school-wide "container drive" in support of two orphanages in South America, a project spearheaded by an SJR alumnus that has generated four full rooms worth of donations.
Scripture reminds us that :in his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well:. As we approach our Golden Anniversary in 2011-2012, our mission here at St. Joseph Regional High School remains unchanged: to continue our commitment to providing the opportunities every individual needs so that his own special gifts and talents will grow and flourish.
God Bless You.
Barry Donnelly
Principal