History

On September 15, 1962, Saint Joseph Parish, Toms River, under the direction of Pastor Lawrence Donovan, opened the first Roman Catholic high school in Ocean County. Dominican Sisters of Newburgh, New York served as members of the original staff of Saint Joseph High School and continue to do so today. The initial freshman class consisted of one hundred fifteen students. The faculty of eight included four sisters, two lay classroom teachers and two athletic instructors. Until the high school building was ready for occupancy in November, faculty conducted classes in Saint Joseph Grade School's Holy Family Hall. 1966 marked the year of the first graduating class.
The original physical complex contained twelve classrooms, office facilities, library, cafeteria, and medical suite. As the student population increased, work began on the second phase of construction in 1965. The new three-story wing provided additional classrooms and facilities for the Science, Business, Athletic, and Home Economics Departments. In 1970, the building was completed, providing a lecture hall, additional classrooms, and storage areas. Under the direction from 1963 to 1994, the original wooded tract of land developed into an attractive campus containing athletic fields and facilities.
On August 14, 1983, Bishop John C. Reiss of the Trenton Diocese renamed the school in honor of it's founder and director, Monsignor Lawrence Donovan. After a lengthy illness, Monsignor Donovan died on January 21, 1987. He was succeeded by Monsignor Casimir Ladzinski who served as Pastor and Director from march 19, 1987 until June 1996. In August 1996, Monsignor Sean Flynn became the school's third director when he became pastor of Saint Joseph Parish.
Many administrative changes have occurred during the school's history. In July 1988, Mr. Edward Gere replaced Sister Carmella DiMatteo who had served as Principal for seventeen years. In 1989, Mr. Gere expanded the administrative team to include the Office of Campus Ministry.

The Griffin

Established in 1962, the school emblem's circular form encloses a center design containing an adaptation of the Dominican Order's shield and motto VERITAS, "truth." Below the shield appears the motto of the late Bishop George W. Ahr of the Trenton Diocese: MARIA SPES MEA, "Mary my hope." The lily to the left, symbolizing the parish and school patron and, Saint Joseph, balances a long-stemmed rose symbolic of Mary, under her title ROSA MYSTICA, patroness of the school.
In 1967, the student council sponsored a contest to name a school mascot. Students submitted a variety of ideas from which the faculty chose five finalists. The student body then voted on the nominations, and the Griffin secured the majority of the ballots.
This mystical creature, half bird - half animal, is usually represented as having the head, beak, and lion. The Griffin symbolizes vigilance, swiftness, loyalty, and strength. It chiefly functions as a protector of the dead. In Christian tradition, the Griffin suggests Christ's two-folded nature. The eagle portion represents His divinity, and the lion portion denotes His humanity.