Identity is one of the key protective factors for young people (and older people). When you know who you are, you also know who you aren’t.

To gain a good identity, you need to do some exploring. This means you have to try things on. Do I like this music? Do I like wearing pink? Am I an artsy person? People need space to try things on and see if they ‘fit’. This doesn’t mean they can engage with things and constantly quit, it just means they don’t get stuck in anything they chose at one time. Even when you are older, it is important to keep an open mind and keep exploring your strengths.

When you have a secure identity, you make good choices. If you know part of your identity is that you don’t make fun of people, then when others do, you don’t engage. If you know that you don’t do drugs, then when others do, you feel less inclined to take part. Knowing what is in and out of your identity comes from conversations and experiences. If you have never thought of it before (do I make fun of others?), then when you are in that situation, you aren’t so sure of your choices. Talk through some of the key values your children need to consider.

Finally, the greatest problem with identity is that young people reject parts that they think others may not like. This means that they reject who they are. Encourage them to celebrate all parts – you like swimming in winter? That is awesome! You like saving animals? Go you. You don’t like sports and you are a boy, all good! Help them to understand that their gifts are unique to them and are required in this world. Comparison can make us reject ourselves – I am not like them, so I am no good. But actually…it is the differences that make our communities work.

Be open, explore, and be curious. Every human I have met is unique and amazing. Often, they just haven’t allowed their real self to be revealed.

Dr Mandie Shean
College Psychologist

The 2025 Battle of the Bands was a celebration of student talent, highlighting not only the skill of the musicians but also the hours of dedication that went into being stage-ready. A special thank you goes to our Year 11 VET Music students, who organised and ran the event and to Miss Brown, whose commitment and encouragement gave students the confidence needed to perform on the night.

The Battle of the Bands continues to be a much-loved tradition at LJBC, and this year’s event was another outstanding reminder of the creativity and talent within the LJBC Music program.

This week, our Secondary College Assembly brought the community together to celebrate student achievement and leadership. Many students were recognised for their efforts in academics, music, and sport, receiving awards for their outstanding commitment and success.

A highlight of the assembly was the announcement of the 2026 Student Leadership Team, including our new Head Boy and Head Girl. Windsor Head of House, Mr Lyndon Rice, shared an important message about leadership, reflecting on the life of Jesus: to love is to sacrifice, to lead is to serve. He reminded our new leaders that true leadership is grounded in humility and kindness, encouraging them to serve others rather than rule over them.

As a College community, we are encouraged to follow this same example, showing kindness and humility to one another so that the Kingdom of Heaven may be seen here and now.

What a first year it has been since launching our partnership with Borussia Dortmund – one of the world’s most successful clubs in developing talent!

On the Pitch Success

• 4 Secondary Academy Teams reached the State Final
• Junior Boys crowned State Champions
• Senior Boys, Senior Girls, & Junior Girls all finished State Runners-Up
• Primary Boys & Girls crowned Northern Champions

International Experiences

• In December 2025, our Secondary Boys will travel to Germany to:
  • Train at BVB’s world-renowned Youth Academy
  • Watch Dortmund’s First Team vs Bayer Leverkusen & Hoffenheim
• Our Secondary Girls are proposed to travel to Dortmund in 2026

World-Class Coaching at LJBC
This year, we hosted 3 BVB Camps on campus:

• Term 1: Champions League Winner & Ex-Premier League Manager Paul Lambert
• Term 3: BVB Youth Coach & Head of SEA Mohamed Kabouchi
• Term 4: Another exciting BVB camp still to come…

Looking Ahead
Launching in 2026: The Borussia Dortmund Total Football Course for Year 11–12 students – a two-year program combining:

• Accredited qualifications
• Elite-level training
• Industry pathways into football 

And this is only the beginning…
Exciting plans are ahead for young aspiring Footballers in Perth as we continue to grow our partnership with Borussia Dortmund and develop football pathways here in WA. Stay tuned – more will be revealed in Term 4!

An Interview with Mohammed Kabouchi from Borussia Dortmund

When the chapters of the LJBC story are complete, we have no doubt that the name of Mrs Carol Harris will shine brightly across its pages. Mrs Harris, you have given so much of yourself to this community, and in turn, you have left an indelible mark on our people, our culture, and our heart. Enjoy your extended leave!

College Music Eisteddfod

From 26 - 28 August, our College Music Eisteddfod brought Primary and Secondary students together on the same stage for the very first time. This year introduced new combined categories where students of all ages could perform alongside one another, as well as a Family Category that gave parents and siblings the chance to share music together.

Across the three days, students competed for trophies and medals, receiving valuable feedback from our expert adjudicator, multi-instrumentalist Chris Travaglini. The Eisteddfod closed with a lunchtime concert from Alumni Band The Pink Slips, who returned to inspire staff and students with a mix of covers and original songs.

Thank you to all staff who supported this special event and helped create such a memorable celebration of music at LJBC.

Music Mentor Class Excursion to WAAPA

Recently, our Music Mentors and their Mentees visited WAAPA to experience a lunchtime concert. Students were treated to a remarkable performance by two-time Grammy Award winner Lucky Oceans, who played jazz standards and original works on the pedal steel guitar, accompanied by WAAPA musicians.

As one of the few artists in the world to have mastered this unique instrument, Oceans’ performance was both captivating and inspiring. For our students, it was a valuable opportunity to hear university-level musicians, while also gaining insight into what it means to study music at a tertiary level.

Senior Recital

From the first note to the final bow, the recital showcased a rich tapestry of musical styles, blending contemporary jazz with timeless classical pieces. The audience was treated to a stunning array of performances that highlighted the depth and diversity of all the students’ musical journeys.

This performance, hosted at our moderating partner school, serves as vital preparation for the upcoming Year 12 WACE music examinations, which take place in just three weeks—adding a layer of purpose and intensity to the evening.

Among the standout soloists were:

• Joshua on cello, whose emotive phrasing and rich tone captivated the room
• Riley on clarinet, delivering a dynamic and expressive performance with flair
• Lachlan on piano, whose technical brilliance and sensitivity brought his piece to life

The night was expertly moderated by staff, supported by fellow students, creating a warm and supportive atmosphere that allowed each performer to shine. The program was thoughtfully curated, offering moments of reflection, excitement, and pure musical joy.

Bravo to all involved!

Tammy van der Nest
Head of the Arts

With sweet melodies and hard-thumping bass drums, our Auditorium heard it all last week as the Whole-College Eisteddfod unfolded over three exciting days. This year brought something special, with the addition of a Family Performance category and a memorable finale from an Alumni band. The standard of performance across every category and age group was outstanding. Well done everyone!

Time and time again, we are blown away by the excellent critical thinking and creativity of our Aspire students who are developing essential skills for lifelong success. A number of our teams have had big successes lately and we couldn’t be more excited for these students.

Creative Edge

This year has been our most successful Creative Edge season ever with all Secondary teams receiving invitations to the State Finals at Curtin University this weekend. In the State Finals, teams will have three hours to prepare a 10 minute performance about a pressing global issue, displaying their communication, collaboration, and creativity skills.

We are so proud of these students for their hard work and can’t wait to see how they go tomorrow!

Future Problem Solving

Congratulations to Year 6 students, Madison and Piper, and Year 11 students, Tayte, Chantal, Linden, and Abigail who have all qualified for the Future Problem Solving National Finals in Sydney in Week 1 of Term 4!

To qualify for the National Finals, students must rank in the top 10% of students in Australia in the qualifying round so it’s a significant honour to these students for achieving this excellent result.

CO2 Dragsters

Our Year 9 Aspire students have commenced their preparation for the international CO2 Dragsters program. They begun by learning about the principles of aerodynamics, including lift, weight, drag, and thrust and then got to work preparing for the annual LJBC Paper Plane Contest. In it’s third year, this fun mini competition tasks students to work in teams of 2-3 to create their best paper planes in four categories: distance, precision, tricks, and time aloft.

The competition will be held next week and we can’t wait to see how the teams go!

As part of our Book Week celebrations in the Primary School, students and their families were invited to create a diorama based on a book of their choice. This fun creative project brought stories to life in 3D form. The creativity and variety of dioramas that were brought in were exceptional. Some of the 'book boxes' represented a scene from the story, a memorable moment, the setting, the characters, or any other part that inspired them. Here are a few pictures of some of the dioramas in the library.

They will be on display at the Primary Learning Journey in Week 9. If you would like to see more, please come and view them in the Primary Library.

Carmen Hawkey
Primary Teacher Librarian

Nearly 150 students from Years 7 to 12 proudly represented LJBC at the recent ACC Inter School Athletics Carnival, with many having trained through the winter months in preparation for the upcoming Athletics West season. All students gave their very best across a wide range of events. Special congratulations goes to Izzy O’Donnell, who was awarded the prestigious 'Under 15 Girls Champion' title. Congratulations Izzy, and everyone who competed.

Our Year 9-12 students got to experience a wonderful opportunity of looking into the career of cooking. We travelled to Northwest Metro Tafe where we were welcomed by lovely chefs. We started the morning by making sticky date pudding, which was delicious, and later made chocolate designs to perfect our masterpieces. Afterwards we were lucky enough to have access to the buffet the wonderful TAFE students had been preparing. 

The ECU experience was wonderful. Allowing me to visit the ECU Joondalup campus, I was impressed by its industry-leading equipment, the range of Engineering specialities, and the facilities each speciality has. It was an amazing day, educating me about the differences between each Engineering speciality I may choose to pursue. Seeing the different job opportunities, the range of university projects, and the campus lifestyle each type of Engineering offers was very interesting. From robotics and coding to hands-on machinery and the numerous CNC machines, ECU has a lot to offer. The patience shown by the Year 3 and 4 Engineering teaching staff as we completed the workshops was much appreciated. The tour that we went on to conclude the experience showed us and taught us about the evolution of 3D printing and machinery, from its introduction into the market to the present day, highlighting its versatility and the variety of materials it can utilise. We got to see plastic models from 3D printers slowly being optimised before being transformed into metallic objects and used in a range of projects. They provided us with a great deal of insight and showcased numerous projects they've completed with students, as well as the extensive machinery they have access to. The campus was amazing, and an extremely friendly environment made for a great day. It most definitely left me with more insight into what career in Engineering I want to specialise in.

Leo
Year 10 iSTEM student

Our Year 8 students took part in an On-Site Personal Formation Retreat focused on growth, gratitude, empathy, and awareness. Through guest speakers, hands-on activities, and team challenges, including wheelchair basketball, first aid, and discussions on mental health and food insecurity, they’re building skills to serve others while enjoying a fun break from the classroom.

Our Year 10s set out from Barrack Street Jetty for a sunset cruise along the Swan River, cruising past the city lights all the way to Fremantle and back. The waters were calm, and the conditions perfect, making way for laughter, music, and the buzz of friends enjoying each other’s company. Add in some great food and plenty of time to relax with staff and peers, and it made for a night to remember.

We are celebrating our beloved Dean of Primary, Mrs Carol Harris, as she prepares to finish her role at the end of this term. With a 'Mrs Harris Goes to Paris' themed afternoon tea (and even farewell tour merch!), staff honoured her creative, playful spirit and the countless ways she has cared for our community over the years. We love you, Mrs Harris!

Our Year 12 students facilitated team-building and environmental awareness activities for the Year 9 Outdoor Ed students at Yanchep National Park. We loved seeing them not only share their skills but also encourage younger students to connect with one another and with the natural environment around them.

LJBC values the trust and support of our families, and we are committed to serving our community well. We would like to inform you that there will be an increase in prices across select items starting from Term 4, 14 October 2025.

Any price increases have been kept to a minimum, allowing us to continue providing the best value for our families.

A full breakdown of the updated prices will be available on our website and displayed in the Uniform Shop from 15 September 2025.

We appreciate your continued support and understanding.

We understand that situations change, so if there is a possibility that you may withdraw your child(ren) from the College during 2025, please contact us as soon as possible, as our policy requires that we receive written notification of ten school weeks’ notice, addressed to the College Registrar. Registrar@ljbc.wa.edu.au.

Sally Yeomans 
College Registrar