We are thrilled to announce a special and accessible show taking place during the matinee performance on Saturday 23 March. This unique event will feature house lights up and an AUSLAN interpreter on stage, signing throughout the performance, ensuring an inclusive experience for all our guests.

During this matinee performance, you will get to witness our talented understudies shine in the spotlight. Join us in cheering for Abigail as Matilda, Lucy as Alice, Calista as Hortensia, and Michaela as Trunchbull. Get ready to enjoy their exceptional performances and talent.

Don't miss this one-of-a-kind opportunity to enjoy a theatrical experience that celebrates diversity and inclusivity.

See you at the show!

My PhD involved asking teenagers what made them feel that their life had value. They gave a range of answers that were quite predictable, but there was one I wasn’t expecting, ‘boundaries’. They told me that when people set rules and followed up on those rules with consequences, they felt worthwhile. This appears quite paradoxical – boundaries are often seen as being ‘mean’, so how does being mean increase value?

The teenagers answered this easily. They said things like “If I didn’t matter why would they bother?” The principle here is that people protect the things that are valuable. When you put a boundary around your child (time to go to bed, how they can speak, where they can go), you are doing it because you care about them and they matter.

Below, I have outlined a few reasons why people have trouble with boundaries and some possible solutions.

1. You don’t know how: This is normal. No parent was instantly gifted with parenting skills when the baby was born. You need to get some training. There are plenty of good parenting courses online that can give you helpful strategies (see Triple P website for free courses Happier, healthier, less stressed kids & families | Triple P (triplep-parenting.net.au).

2. You don’t have a plan: If you see behaviour you don’t like and you don’t have a plan, you can end up responding harshly or not responding at all. I remember telling a student I was going to keep them in at lunch for three weeks. I had to tell them I had changed my mind because that was excessive and a terrible consequence – but I learned I should have a plan. If they do X, I will do Y.

3. You feel mean when you set boundaries: You are actually mean if you don’t set boundaries for your children. My participants said they disliked and resented their parents when they let them do whatever they wanted. This ‘freedom’ made them feel unsafe and unloved. One participant said she knew her parents didn’t care about her because they didn’t stop her from harmful behaviour. Boundaries, when done with kindness, actually represent love.

4. My child gets mad at me: Although this is a really uncomfortable experience, it is important to manage your emotions and not take their reaction to heart. Yes, it would be nice if they were being kind, but you are doing this to help them grow and you don’t need to be liked at all times.

5. It feels easier to just ignore it: It is easier…today…but in a year or five years’ time, the things you have allowed to make life easy will become much larger and completely unmanageable. You don’t have to correct every tiny behaviour, but you do have to correct the ones that are destructive, disrespectful, and impact others negatively.

If you have let boundaries slide, it may be worth having a family meeting to let your child/ren know you are starting again. Get their input too – What are the values for this family? What are the rules for this family? What are fair and reasonable consequences? Remember that boundaries mean you care – you are willing to be disliked and ‘mean’ in order to get the best outcome for your child. That is good parenting.

Dr Mandie Shean
College Psychologist

Year 2 String Sponsorship and Year 4 Band Sponsorship

The Year 2.1 and 4.1 parents were invited to an afternoon tea and introduced to the sponsorship music tutors Mrs Shinkield (flute) Mr Houlahan (trumpet) Mr Liebenberg (clarinet) Mr Brown (cello) and Ms Lim (violin).

Year 2 students learn either the violin or cello. Year 4 students learn either flute, trumpet or clarinet.

Mr Troaca engaged in a fun Q&A with the tutors asking them all kinds of questions about their musical journey. Each tutor followed this by demonstrating their instrument with a catchy, recognisable tune.

Mrs Bonner explained to parents why we value students' music tuition and what benefits this gives them. She presented research by Dr Anita Collins showing benefits to students who leave class for music lessons.

The afternoon ended with a fabulous tea provided by the lovely primary admin ladies.

It is a privilege for us to offer the Sponsorship Programs which include free lessons and instrument hire to our students.

We look forward to seeing each child's musical development in the concerts next term!

Kaboom Percussion

This week, our Primary students had the pleasure of participating in an incredible workshop hosted by the talented Kaboom Percussion team. Throughout the session, students delved into the fascinating world of percussion instruments, discovering their workings and even exploring how to craft instruments using recycled materials. The show proved to be a delightful experience for both students and teachers alike, as we found ourselves dancing and singing along to beloved tunes. As the workshop concluded, students departed feeling inspired to create their own musical instruments at home. 

Mrs van der Nest
Director of Music PK-12

Our Year 12 Captains recently attended the Youth Leadership Conference at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. This event introduced students to a range of influential young leaders to provide them with insight and tools for their various positions in leadership at the College.

Students had the opportunity to reflect on their own leadership development through the variety of keynote speakers, interactive activities, and reflective sessions to cultivate their sense of personal agency and self-leadership.

Once a fortnight, our Student Councillors also meet in junior and senior groups to raise awareness on matters they find important, increase student voice, and contribute to discussions that impact their peers. These discussions have been invaluable, and the Student Services team look forward to continued partnership with our student leaders to support our students at the College.

Anmar van der Westhuizen
Head of James House

It has been a very busy Term 1 with Year 12s off to a great start with their Induction day at the Swan Valley Adventure Centre on January 30. Time did not stand still as they stepped into the classes the very next day for start of their classroom studies. This week was the first of the Parent/Teacher/Student interviews with the Year 12 cohort as they settle into the year of study.

NAPLAN has started this week for our Year 7s and Year 9s- Please support your student by reassuring them to just do their best and to understand that NAPLAN is just assessing the skills they are learning through their curriculum at school. Questions are linked to the Australian Curriculum: English and Mathematics.

The closing date for Term 1 College Colours is fast approaching. Please ensure you submit all parts to complete your application. If you have any queries, please see one of the Committee members listed on the Posters throughout the College or see me in the Curriculum Office.

If you encounter any issues with the submission- please see or message one of the College Colours Committee Members as listed below:

Committee members

Mrs Eyre, Mrs Del Frate, Mrs Ferreira, Mr Newland, Ms Pender, Mr J Smith, Miss Cartledge, Mrs Hopkins, Ms Lhota, Mrs Orlowsky.

Certificates of Excellence were handed out at the Secondary College Assembly on Thursday 14 March. Certificates of Excellence are awarded to students for outstanding academic achievement across a range of subjects. The following were awarded to the Cohorts as listed below:

Excellence Certificates:

Y7 2023 – 18 students

Y8 2023 – 17 students

Y9 2023 – 16 students

Y10 2023 – 16 students

Y11 2023 – 4 students

Endeavour Certificates are awarded to students who strive and work at their best toward their goals in their academics across all academic areas in 2023. This year we awarded 2023 Endeavours to the following students in these year groups:

Endeavour Certificates

Y7 2023 – 10 students

Y8 2023 – 7 students

Y9 2023 – 7 students

Y10 2023 – 4 students

Letters of Merit are awarded to students who are successful with at least 5 A grades across their subjects each year. For 2023, the following students worked toward this achievement across a range of subjects:

Letters of Merit:

Y7 2023 – 28 students

Y8 2023 – 24 students

Y9 2023 – 24 students

Y10 2023 – 22 students

Y11 2023 – 4 students

As we near the Term 1 Break, we wish all students and families a most blessed Easter and refreshing break. See you back in Term 2.

Kimberly Eyre
Dean of Studies

At the recent WA State Athletics Championships, Lake Joondalup Baptist College students showcased their talent and sportsmanship on the track and field. Their dedication to training and passion for athletics resulted in outstanding performances throughout the competition.
The students represented their school with pride, embodying the values of teamwork, perseverance and excellence.

Jack (Year 10) won State Gold for the U15 High Jump with a jump of 1.80m. He will now compete in the Australian National Athletics Championships in Adelaide at the end of the upcoming school holidays. He has also been selected to attend the Little Athletics National Championships in Adelaide in April.

Haaris (Year 7) came 2nd and qualified for nationals. He is attending and competing this year as a U13 for discus, shot put, and Javelin.
Results
2nd in U13s discus
2nd (for U13) in shotput with a 1m personal best (PB), throwing a 3kg (2kg for little athletics)
3rd in Javelin (U13), pipped in the final round by 10cm and achieved a 3.5m PB, throwing a 600g javelin (400g for little athletics)

Savannah (Year 4) did well in all of her events, qualifying for many, but due to her young age, she could only compete in four.
Results
2nd Javelin - 18.79m was leading going into last round and missed first by 20cm.
2nd discus - 22.25m new club record. Missed first by 30cm.
3rd high jump - 1.09m - the winner jumped new state record.

Gold - State field relay champs (earlier in the year)

Things are starting to heat up in the Aspire program for 2024 with many of our students across Years 5-12 training for and competing in a range of academic competitions. These students are diligent, kind, funny, and smart and it is such a privilege to get to work with them!

da Vinci Decathlon – Week 6, Term 1

Last week, 48 academically gifted students from Years 5-10 attended the annual da Vinci Decathlon Gala Day at the University of Western Australia. The competition asks teams of eight students to compete in 10 different disciplines over a huge day in UWA’s Winthrop Hall. After weeks of training, our teams not only had a fun and rewarding day, they also came away with several very impressive accolades!

Year 5: 1^st place in Legacy (General Knowledge), 3^rd place in Art and Poetry, 3^rd place in Ideation

Year 6: 1^st place in Ideation, 3^rd place in Art and Poetry, 3^rd place in Engineering

Year 7: 2^nd place in Art and Poetry, 2^nd place in Cartography

Year 8: 3^rd place in Cartography

Year 9: 1^st place in Art and Poetry, 2^nd place in Codebreaking

Year 10: 1^st place in Art and Poetry, 2^rd place in Engineering

Congratulations to all of the students who participated in the competition in 2024!

Western Australian Schools Debating Competition

Our Year 10 Lake Joondalup Baptist College debate team had their first debate against Shenton College this week. The students managed to successfully convince the adjudicator that exclusionary discipline is not necessarily the best approach in education, with a focus on the benefits of meeting students’ social, emotional, and physical needs to curb issues before they start to arise. It was wonderful to see these students back at it again for the third year in a row and we are so proud of them for winning their first debate of the season!

It was also so beautiful to see that Chelsea and Layla, two of the team’s Year 12 mentors who graduated in 2023, came all the way out to Shenton College to support the team!

Next week, the team is up against Scotch College, arguing in a debate about the powers of local government.

We wish the students all the best in their preparations!

Junior and Senior Ethics Olympiads

In the next few weeks, we’ll start training for the Year 5-6 and 10-12 Ethics Olympiads. This competition challenges students to consider the ethics of a range of thought-provoking situations by applying complex theories such as deontology, consequentialism, and virtue ethics. Lake Joondalup Baptist College has a record of doing exceptionally well in Ethics Olympiads, scoring the rank of third place internationally in the senior division in 2023, showing that the students at LJBC are thoughtful and ethical young people. We are so excited to get to work with a new group of ethically-minded students!

Students recently enjoyed a day off from the classroom to attend the Primary Inter House Swimming Carnival held at HBF Stadium pool in Mt Claremont. Our young students enjoyed a day filled with fun, sportsmanship and spirited competition as talented swimmers showcased their skills in the water.

Congratulations to all participants for their dedication and hard work leading up to the carnival and a big thank you to all staff, volunteers, parents and supporters who contributed to the success of this event. Your support is invaluable in creating memorable experiences for our students.

Stay tuned for upcoming sporting events and activities as we continue to foster a culture of fitness, teamwork, and healthy competition within our school community.

We recently welcomed Ian Goodenough, Member of Parliament, to Lake Joondalup Baptist College. Our Year 11 and 12 Politics and Law class had the opportunity to engage with Mr Goodenough as he shared insights into his daily work and role as Second Deputy Speaker.

The students were inspired by Mr Goodenough's passion for public service and dedication to shaping our community's better future. It was a fantastic learning experience for everyone involved, sparking thoughtful discussions about leadership, governance, and our impact on society.

Mr Goodenough's visit has broadened our understanding of the political landscape and ignited a sense of civic duty among our students.
We are grateful to Mr Goodenough for engaging with our students and sharing his valuable experiences. Together, we look forward to building a brighter tomorrow through education, empowerment, and active citizenship.

The annual Inter House Chess Competition at LJBC has officially started! This competition will bring together our talented chess enthusiasts for a short season of strategic gameplay and friendly rivalry. Students from all houses have been showcasing their skills and strategies on the chessboard, playing in intense matches that highlight their dedication and passion for the game.

Stay tuned for more updates as the competition progresses towards the finals later this term. Let's continue supporting our students as they enjoy friendly competition that fosters critical thinking and a love for chess.

Stephen Sampson 
Head of Secondary Library Services

Long-lasting memories were made at last Friday evening's Year 11 Social Event held at AQWA in Hillarys Boat Harbour. It was a memorable night filled with laughter and fun.
The evening kicked-off with students exploring the wonders of the aquarium before heading to the function venue to witness a breathtaking sunset while enjoying a delicious dinner and dessert. It's great to hear that everyone had a great time as friendships were strengthened and new bonds were formed.

Social events like this are enjoyed greatly by our students and remain integral to Lake Joondalup Baptist College's commitment to fostering community connection and celebration.

Thank you to the enthusiastic participation of all students and staff who made this event successful.

A Student Councillor is representative of the student body for their House, a role that carries responsibility and prestige. Recently, Year 7s had the opportunity to apply for these positions with voting being conducted within their House groups. Thank you to all the students who applied – your willingness to serve and lead is commendable!

Congratulations to the following students who were elected by their peers as Student Councillors:

Anmar van der Westhuizen
Head of James House

LJBC Football Academy – SSWA Northern Futsal Champions

Congratulations to the Senior Boys and Intermediate Boys Football Academy sides who won the SSWA Northern Futsal Championships this term. The Senior Boys defeated Dianella Secondary College in the final, whilst the Intermediate Boys saw two LJBC teams reach the final after topping their groups and both winning their respective semi finals.

All players across the competitions represented the College to the highest standard, with their high levels of sportsmanship, teamwork and humility.

John Walmsley
Football Academy Coach

We have again had a busy start to the year with the Cadets. Most of our new Cadets have now received their uniform and are looking very smart and have started to learn some of the basics.

We have been learning how to muster and cook some meals for camp and have got started on learning our phonetic alphabet and radio protocols. The senior Cadets also completed their swim test at Craigie Leisure Centre, which involved learning pool and water safety with volunteers from Royal Life Saving.

Our first camp for the year at Ern Halliday was a great success. Cadets tested themselves by completing one of the 3 activities on offer and cooking up a storm in the kitchen. The wind presented some interesting challenges with some of the tents, but we managed in the end.

Please be advised that, being a short term, we have our planning meeting in Week 8 and the Easter holidays in Week 9, so our usual training sessions will begin again in Term 2. An updated calendar will be available by the end of Week 9 on SEQTA.

If you have any queries relating to the Cadet program, please contact Mrs Jenny Pontarelli on 9300 744 or via email Jenny.Pontarelli@ljbc.wa.edu.au.

Jenny Pontarelli
Unit Leader

Opportunity to Register for US Sports Scholarship Events (Year 9-12 students) - Soccer

FirstPoint USA, the world’s biggest international sports scholarship agency for universities in the US, are hosting a soccer event and parent presentation at our College in April, for students interested in pursuing an academic and athletic career in the States.

As the global leader in student-athlete scouting and recruitment, FirstPoint works with a network of over 2,500 colleges and universities across the USA, and since launching in 2001, they have supported more than 30,000 students from across the world, securing over $300 million in scholarship funding.

As part of their Talent ID program in Australia, we are assisting them in staging Soccer Trials and a presentation at LJBC on Friday 19 April, giving aspiring student-athletes the opportunity to showcase their talents and find out more about the US sports scholarship process and life as a collegiate athlete.

If your child would like to attend the trials and find out more about the possibility to begin their US sports scholarship journey, please register via the links below:

Online Information Webinar | Wednesday 20^th March at 8.00pm

Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams

Soccer Trial | Lake Joondalup Baptist College | Friday 19^th April at 1pm

Sports Scholarships in America | Study in America | FirstPoint USA

You can also find a wealth of information on US sports scholarships via the FirstPoint USA website, including athlete success stories, different universities and FAQs, or you can find out more by visiting their Instagram channel.

John Walmsley
Football Academy Coach

Dominik Godwich

Meet Dominik Godwich, a talented Year 12 student at LJBC who has embarked on a unique and awe-inspiring path who is completing a Certificate IV in Live Production & Technical Services at WAAPA one day a week during school.

The Certificate IV in Live Production, a comprehensive and intensive program, encompasses various aspects of the entertainment industry, including sound engineering, stage management, lighting design, and audiovisual production. This course reflects the role of individuals working in a range of technical production jobs in the creative arts industry. Dominik will have the opportunity to study in fully equipped workshops, wardrobe facilities, lighting and sound studios, giving him immediate ‘hands on’ access to all production development, construction and staging processes.

For Dominik, the journey so far has been a transformative experience, fueling his passion and nurturing his artistic talents. This course has provided him with a platform to develop not only his technical skills but also his interpersonal and leadership abilities. His dedication and unwavering passion for live production has not only granted him invaluable knowledge and experience but has also opened doors to countless opportunities in the industry.

Lynton Smith
Head of Career Education/Careers Advisor

Regular Uniform Shop hours during school term

Open to Parents and students Tuesday and Thursday 8am to 4pm closed between 11.30 and 12.30 during school term.

LJBC also offers an online service so you have the option to size your uniform and then place your order through www.flexischools.com.au. Flexischools requires you to register before commencing with ordering uniforms.  The online service provides you with the necessary sizing chart to place your orders.  Any orders placed online will be available for pick up as per the date you have requested online.  Primary items will be delivered to classrooms after 2pm on a Tuesday and Thursday during school term.

Uniform Shop Appointments available for Winter Fittings

Winter Uniform Appointment times (15 minutes) are available for uniform fittings.  Please contact College Reception on 9300 7444 for all bookings. 

Monday 18 March 2024 - 7.30 to 8.30 or 2.30 to 3.45pm

Monday 25 March 2024 - 7.30 to 8.30 or 2.30 to 3.45pm

Monday 15 April 2024 - 9.30  to 2.30pm

Monday 22 April 2024 - 7.30 to 8.30  or 2.30 to 3.45pm

Other Important Information

A few bays have been made available for parking outside the Uniform Shop during open times only.  Please be mindful as this is allocated for customers only.

We understand that situations change, so if there is a possibility that you may withdraw your child(ren) from the College during 2024, 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