If you experience 'stress' it means that you are feeling tension, because you perceive the demands are greater than your resources. For example, your child might feel stressed because they have an assignment due (demand), two tests (demand), and work (demand), but feel they have no time (resources) and don’t understand the content well (resources). Another student might not feel stressed because they only have one test (low demand), they have studied for it (resources), and the subject is their favourite (perception).

Some stress is helpful as the hormone cortisol is released and helps you to be more alert, focused, attentive and energised. However, too much stress is not healthy as the excessive cortisol can disrupt your moods, digestion, memory and focus, and also cause muscle tension, sleep problems, weight gain, and headaches.

To reduce unhelpful stress, you need to reduce the demands, increase your resources, or change your perception. I have outlined some ideas below to help you manage stress. I have made them generic so that all of our LJBC community may be able to use them.

• Reduce demands: Do a stocktake of every task in your life that is putting you under stress. Is there anything you can remove? Even easy and good things can be a weight when you have too many tasks. You have to be selective, you can’t do it all (I promise, I have tried).
• Reduce the value of some demands: You have told your brain that some tasks are very important but they are just ordinary. Remove some of the importance on ordinary tasks: the house is clean enough, the essay says what it needs to say, the speech has all of the points you need. Don’t elevate every task and make it super important.
• Increase resources: Stress can emerge when you feel like you don’t have the resources to manage the task. Resources could include time, skills, or knowledge. It is easy to get more resources – the problem is most people think it is a ‘me’ problem rather than a resource problem. They might say “I get stressed because I am useless at writing essays” rather than “I get stressed because I need to get some more skills in writing essays”. Take the stress, and try to think of it as a resource problem that is solvable, not a you problem that is fixed.
• Change your perception: Stress really depends on how you perceive a situation. Two people can look at exactly the same challenge, and one can be excited by it and the other stressed. Are there any ‘stressful’ events that are maybe just exciting? Just thinking about it differently can reduce your feelings of stress.

I hope some of these ideas help. If you have any topics you would like me to cover, please email them to ljbc@ljbc.wa.edu.au and I will try to include them.

Dr Mandie Shean
College Psychologist

LJBC Japanese language students, enjoyed a whirlwind tour of Japan at the end of Term 1. We visited sights in Tokyo, including Harajuku, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Asakusa, Akiharbara and Disneyland. We then travelled down to Osaka and enjoyed a day at Universal Studios before experiencing some of Japan's traditional and historical sights in Kyoto and Hiroshima. We are very proud of our students' efforts to practice their Japanese and embrace and learn more about Japan's culture.

Travelling overseas offers Lake Joondalup Baptist College students an invaluable opportunity for personal growth and cultural immersion whilst instilling a global perspective that will stay with them for a lifetime.

Meagan Maassen
Head of Learning Area - Languages

During the April school holidays and the first week of Term 2, 34 students visited various countries in Europe for the Battlefields Cultural Tour.

The first stop was London where students enjoyed going back in time by visiting HMS Belfast, the Imperial War Museum, and Churchill’s Cabinet War Rooms. They also visited Shakespeare’s Globe and the Harry Potter Studios, saw a West End production and much more.

Next on the itinerary was Krakow, Poland. This was a historically significant city in WW2. The visit to Auschwitz was both thought-provoking and significant to pass on to the next generation, ensuring that this horrific act of human behaviour is not repeated. Other visits also included Wieliczka Salt Mines and Old Town.

In the second week, students explored Austria and the City of Music, Vienna. The unique blend of imperial grandeur and vibrant culture with the magnificent buildings, rich heritage and famous Viennese cuisine made for an unforgettable experience. En route to Munich (Germany), we travelled to the picturesque Salzburg and Mondsee to walk in the steps of the Von Trapp family. Munich was an immersion in the Bavarian history and culture. A quick visit to BMW Welt with a robotic barista and new prototypes had many students dream big! A highlight was seeing fantasy come to life with our visit to Neuschwanstein Castle.

The next stop was Amsterdam, in the Western Netherlands. We visited the Resistance Museum, Anne Frank’s House, and the Van Gogh Museum.

The third week of our tour commenced with students and staff visiting the various battlefields around Ieper, Belgium. Students had the privilege of paying their respects to fallen soldiers and laying a wreath at the Last Post Ceremony at Menin Gate. Hearing the bugle call left the group feeling quite emotional, especially after visiting numerous memorials and cemeteries in the surrounding area.

The final leg of our tour was spent in Paris, France. Students had a wonderful time exploring the many significant sights, enjoying the café-coffee culture and visiting Disneyland.

Having the opportunity to travel abroad, provided students with the benefit of learning valuable life skills, gaining a global perspective and broadening horizons, building relationships and getting a hands-on educational experience. Students had the opportunity to try new things and have a fun experience, creating incredible memories that will last them a lifetime.

Anmar van der Westhuizen
Head of James House / Secondary English Teacher

At Lake Joondalup Baptist College, we are committed to nurturing the well-being and personal growth of every student in our care. Last week, our students attended an 'Understanding Bullying' session designed to equip them with the knowledge and skills to navigate this complex issue.

During this session, expertly presented by Louise from @BullyZero, our students had the opportunity to explore the different forms of bullying, understand their impact on individuals, and learn effective strategies for addressing and preventing bullying behaviours. The session emphasised the importance of building a supportive, inclusive, and empathetic community where every child feels safe, respected, and valued.

A key takeaway from the program was encouraging our students to be active bystanders, to speak up against injustice, and to offer support and compassion to those who may be struggling.

As a school, LJBC believes that equipping our students with this knowledge and these essential life skills is crucial for their overall well-being and personal development. 

Our LJBC Aspire students have been continuing to shine over the past few weeks! We currently have 80 students training for different competitions, including the West Australian Debating League, the Ethics Olympiad, and the Future Problem Solving competition.

Western Australian Schools Debating Competition

It was a pleasure to watch our Year 10 debating team win their second debate against Shenton College in Week 2. The second round of the competition focused on the powers of local governments and our students were able to convince the adjudicator that we should not expand the powers of local government in Australia. They mentioned issues with coordination, bureaucracy, and the negative implications for marginalised groups.

Along with winning the debate, the students were also given incredibly positive feedback from the judges about the quality of their speeches, their ability to give rebuttal on the spot, and the quality of their Points of Information (POIs), which are questions they can ask the other team during their speeches.

Congratulations to Sam, Tayte, Cara, and Abigail! We are all looking forward to the next debate on arts and culture. 

Junior Ethics Olympiad

The Junior School Ethics Olympiad training is well and truly underway and it has been such a pleasure to work with these insightful and articulate young people.

To start out the program, we spent a few weeks focusing on complex and nuanced questions related to unethical leaders and how to walk the fine line of maintaining respect whilst also standing up for what you believe in. Then, we moved on to consider the ethics of lying to protect yourself or someone else and the implications of white lies, lies of omission, and sharing hurtful truths. The students never fail to impress with their mature responses!

I’m thoroughly looking forward to continuing to work with them throughout the rest of the term. 

Ashleigh Cartledge
Years 5-12 Aspire Coordinator

Music Mentor Program 2024

The Music Mentor Program for 2024 was launched on 5 March. The program aims to develop exceptional high school musicians and aspiring primary school musicians. Each high school musician is paired up with a primary school musician who is learning the same instrument, and they mentor them throughout the year by forming a band together and participating in other musical and social activities. The culmination of the program is an end of year concert where Mentors and Mentees perform duets together, and as a “Mentor Band”, for family and friends. The Music Mentors will also receive professional coaching from Clarus Consultancy throughout the year, so they have the opportunity to grow in their mentoring role.

On 5 March, the Mentors and Mentees met each other for the first time. The Mentors gave their Mentees a gift bag and a letter of encouragement to inspire them on their musical journey. Then they spent time getting to know each other over morning tea and writing a musical composition together.

It has been so encouraging to observe the Music Mentors discover how well they can lead as musicians and the positive effect that this has had already on their Mentee’s musical confidence! I look forward to watching them all continue to grow musically and personally, and I hope the connections formed here will continue well beyond the program.

Mrs Nina Shinkfield
Music Mentor Co-ordinator

WASO Excursion

On Wednesday 20 March the Year 11 and 12 ATAR Music students were treated to a live concert presented by the West Australian Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jen Winley and presented by Ashley Smith.

This NextGen concert aimed to boost the confidence of students in their music studies by delving into the content of the new ATAR syllabus. The program included a discussion on the ATAR set works, outlining key techniques used by the composers and detailed analysis of the works. Students were inspired by the professional musicians playing as well as their answers to questions presented to them.

The works performed included:

Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No.5, 1st movement

Joseph Hayden: Trumpet Concerto, 3rd movement

Amy Beach: Gaelic Symphony, 1st movement

John Adams: Short Ride in a Fast Machine

The concert and presentation sparked a healthy debate between our students on correct historic performance etiquette and the conversation rages on!

Tammy van der Nest
Director of Music PK-12

The Performing Arts Perspectives 2024 on 18 March at the Perth Concert Hall was such an incredible experience for the Year 11 and 12 ATAR Music and Drama students. It was fantastic to see some of the best WACE performances from the 2023 practical exams for Drama, Music and Dance. The opportunity was so inspiring and eye-opening and it was incredible to witness the level of talent and creativity within the Arts. It was so wonderful that we were all given such amazing experiences and opportunities and it most definitely inspired us all to take risks and try new things within our performances. We are all so grateful for such an incredible opportunity. The Performing Arts Perspectives Night is something for all Arts students to look forward to each year.

Michaela Roesch
Drama Captain

We are thrilled to share the success of two of our student-athletes who recently represented Western Australia at the Australian Athletics Championships in Adelaide.
Haaris, in the U13 Boys's division, secured a bronze medal in the Javelin with an impressive throw of 30.52m and Jack, in the U15 division, claimed a silver medal in High Jump, clearing a height of 1.87m. These outstanding results showcase Haaris and Jack's incredible talent and commitment to succeeding at a high level.
We commend Haaris and Jack for their hard work, determination and exemplary representation of Lake Joondalup Baptist College on the national stage.

The Starlight Foundation aims to brighten the lives of seriously ill children and their families. In week 8 of Term 1, Arcadia and Batavia Houses continued our tradition of holding a Starlight Day fundraising event to support the foundation and the important work it does. For a donation students could go uniform free and a sausage sizzle was held at lunchtime in the quadrangle. Some of the senior music students provided us with atmosphere and everyone enjoyed watching Mr Allsop get dunked to raise some extra cash. Later in the week we also had a successful bake sale with lots of sweet treats. There was also a jellybean jar guessing competition – congratulations to Gabriele and Adah who won the jars with the closest guesses. The event was a great success and I am proud to say resulted in a total of $2180.67 being raised to support the Starlight Foundation. Thank you to the Student Councillors and members of Arcadia and Batavia Houses who assisted and to everyone who took part in the events.

Reuben Farr
Head of House Batavia

Meet Riley, a vibrant Year 11 student at Lake Joondalup Baptist College, whose journey in pursuing a Certificate II in Salon Assistant exemplifies the power of dedication and drive.

The Certificate II in Salon Assistant program provides Riley with a holistic understanding of the beauty industry, encompassing theoretical knowledge and practical skills essential for success. From learning about hygiene practices to mastering the art of blow-drying and learning to colour, Riley's journey is as comprehensive as it is rewarding.

Beyond the technical aspects, the course also emphasizes the importance of customer service and professionalism – qualities Riley embodies effortlessly. Her ability to communicate effectively with clients and her keen attention to detail have earned her accolades from both instructors and salon patrons alike.

As Riley navigates through her Year 11 studies and her vocational training, she remains steadfast in her determination to carve out a successful career in the beauty industry. With each new technique mastered and every challenge overcome, she moves closer to her goal, empowered by her passion and fueled by her dreams.

Lynton Smith
Head of Career Education/Careers Advisor

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