History

Founded: September 1962

First graduating class: June 1966

First Principal: Brother Sylvere

Administered from 1962 – 1997 by the Xaverian Brothers

Affiliation with the community of Marist Brothers began in 2000 and continues to the present

Five Xaverian Principals (Brother Sylvere, Brother William Shepard, Brother Joseph Smithers, Brother Peter Russell, Brother William Cushing)

First lay principal (sixth overall) – John Job, graduate of Marist High School, Class of 1982 (ordained Father John Job in May, 2011)

First alumni principal (seventh overall) – Barry Donnelly, SJR Class of 1971

First President: Barry Donnelly ‘71

Saint Joseph Regional High School is owned and operated by the Archdiocese of Newark; it was constructed as part of a regional high school program by Archbishop Thomas Boland.   During its first year, the twelve dozen freshmen in the school attended classes at Our Lady of Mercy School, in Park Ridge, while construction continued in Montvale.  The school was officially dedicated on September 4, 1963.  The Xaverian Brothers were committed to a demanding college preparatory curriculum, a challenging program of interscholastic athletic competition, extensive and varied extra-curricular activities and a commitment to building character through spiritual reflection, service, and family values.

In its early years, SJR was a track powerhouse in terms of athletics; the 1969 team was recognized as “Team of the Century” by several publications.  In the late 80s, and throughout the 90s, football, baseball, hockey, and wrestling became dominant programs in New Jersey.  Today, the school continues to have a strong athletic program, especially for its relatively small size, and remains a perennial state power in football and baseball.

Since 2000, the school’s performing arts program has achieved wide-spread acclaim, including national recognition from the USA Today in 2007, and multiple awards from the Metropolitan Theater Awards, the Montclair State HS Theater Awards and the Papermill Playhouse “Rising Star” Awards, where our productions earned four straight Educational Impact Awards. 

The school undertook a major capital campaign in 2003, which resulted in the refurbishing of its theater, the construction of the new Field-house, the installation of an all-weather turf football field and track, and the addition of a state-of-the-art science labs.

In 2011, Saint Joe’s opened its new Media Center and Television Studio.

In 2016, the school changed its administrative structure to a President-Principal model and established the Office of Advancement.