After a year of modifying or postponing many activities due to the global pandemic, SJV’s Homecoming 2021 promised to be a special celebration, bringing students and alumni back to campus once again to celebrate as a community! In a nod to tradition, this year's homecoming festivities included Spirit week, a pep rally, a parade with floats, a homecoming court, and for the first time in almost three decades, a roaring bonfire! More than 400 students turned out for the Thursday evening bonfire, which also served as a lesson plan for Mr. Griffin’s Honors Engineering III class. Students helped build the bonfire structure and even developed the fire starters used to ignite the blaze. 

Throughout homecoming week, students had the opportunity to socialize and express themselves in a variety of ways, from dress-down days that included themes like “ favorite college or professional sports team” or “favorite superhero”; to float building; to a Pep rally recognizing our senior athletes. The week culminated with Friday night’s varsity football game. A homecoming parade, held during halftime, featured members of the homecoming court, including seniors Pat Cary and Amaya Hemmings as King and Queen, and Juniors Zachary Jersey and Katie Webb as Prince and Princess. It also featured floats from each grade centered on the theme: Superheroes versus Super villains. Members of the faculty and staff, along with eighth graders from St.Benedict's school, judged the seniors to have the best float. The Lancer’s 29-20 victory over Freehold Boro was the perfect ending to the week!

The Homecoming game was also the annual “Jayne Game” honoring beloved SJV teacher, coach and guidance counselor Jayne Shalkowski who passed away in 2019. Sporting special t-shirts that read “Keep the Legacy Alive”, alumni and parents gathered to celebrate Jayne’s 40-years of service to the school and shared food and refreshments. Money raised from the event will help fund SJV’s Jayne Shalkowski Legacy Scholarship.