As the College year draws to a close, it’s remarkable how quickly time seems to pass. Term 4 is a season of milestones and celebrations, highlighted by events such as the Year 12 Graduation, Year 6 Primary Graduation, Christmas concerts, and end-of-year Awards Services for both the Primary and Secondary schools. It is also a time for farewells and reflections.

Over the years, I have been privileged to witness many groups of students progress through the College, who now serve our community here in Joondalup and communities across the world. We are blessed to see our alumni, now over 3,000 strong, take up roles as professionals, skilled tradespeople, caregivers, business owners, innovators, global volunteers, service personnel, teachers, medical researchers, doctors, and nurses — the list goes on. The vision for LJBC to prepare young people to be a bright light in our community, reflecting the glory of God, remains steadfast and continues to grow.

Highlights of 2024

This year has been filled with outstanding achievements and memorable moments, too numerous to list them all.

• Our overseas tours returned, with visits to Singapore, the battlefields of Europe, and Japan.
• Our Year 6 students enjoyed their trip to Sydney and Canberra.
• Aspire teams represented the College at the National Finals of Future Problem Solving in Geelong, Victoria. Three teams earned the title of State Champions, with our Year 10 team achieving National Champion status, outperforming over 260 teams from across Australia.

After two years, the College concluded its formal association with the Perth Glory Football Club. We are grateful for the opportunities this partnership provided our students. Looking ahead, we are thrilled to announce a new partnership with Borussia Dortmund, commencing in 2025. This marks the first collaboration of its kind in Australia. Borussia Dortmund’s emphasis on discipline, hard work, perseverance, and service aligns with our College values. Their humanitarian work in the Asia-Pacific region deeply resonates with our vision of walking humbly.

In 2024, with support from the Association of Independent Schools of Western Australia, the College evaluated its Arts facilities, including the Performing Arts. While these facilities have served students well, it was concluded that it is now time for renewal. The College will embark on an exciting building development program in 2025, including a multi-stage redevelopment and extension of the College Auditorium. This project will cater to specialist arts programs in Dance, Drama, Music, Visual Arts, and Media/Photography, honouring LJBC’s tradition of excellence in the Arts since the College’s earliest years.

Strategic Commitment

In 2024, our focus was guided by three priorities:

1. Ensuring that all students and staff are increasingly known and loved.
2. Growing and safeguarding the ecosystem of trusted relationships in our community.
3. Prioritising outcomes that promote student growth and flourishing.

These priorities have driven innovations this year and laid the groundwork for future expansion in 2025.

Senior secondary schooling has undergone significant change across the state. With the decreasing transparency of ATAR due to lower representation across schools, we are committed to engaging students earlier. By helping them discover their unique gifts and talents, we guide them towards pathways that suit their aspirations and provide challenges for growth. Our approach, encapsulated in the phrase “Free to Be, Motivated to Become,” challenges students to be courageous learners, supported to achieve success. This will continue to guide our efforts in the coming years.

We look forward to involving families in strategic projects and focus groups early in 2025 and encourage all to contribute to shaping the College’s future ambitions.

Secondary Structural Changes

To support our priorities and deliver a seamless PK-12 schooling experience, the College restructured the senior leadership team in the Secondary School in 2024.

Rachel Allsop was appointed Head of Secondary and Associate Principal, supported by: Mark Downsborough, Director of Lower Secondary and Simon Moffatt, Director of Senior Secondary

A Director of Teaching and Learning will join the team in Term 1, 2025.

An induction assembly will be held early in Term 1, 2025, where families can meet this new leadership team. Minor Secondary School campus changes are also underway to support this structure. Both Primary and Secondary sub-schools will collaborate in new and supportive ways as one College.

Farewells and Staff Updates

This year, we bid farewell to several valued staff members and have other changing roles.

• Madeline Jones, Director of Drama, has been an exceptional leader in Drama and will be greatly missed.
• Jenny Pontarelli, Emergency Cadets leader and Mathematics teacher, will retire at the end of the year and move to rural Italy.
• Nola Hebiton, Mathematics teacher and former Head of Cumberland House, is retiring after many years of dedicated service at the end of the year.
• Alison Jamison, Primary teacher, is moving to a new role as Head of Learning Support at Kingsway Christian College next year. Thank you and all the best, Alison.
• Helen Del Frate has concluded her role as Dean of Students. Her contributions to student safety, positive education, year group camps, and wellbeing initiatives are just a few highlights of the wonderful work Helen has accomplished during her time at the College.
• Matthew Lynch has been appointed Head of Cumberland House, succeeding Matthew Potts, whom we thank for his significant impact on Cumberland students during his time in the role. Mr Potts will now focus full-time on teaching ATAR Physics and Chemistry.
• Tracy Pender, Head of Arts, will step down at the end of Term 1, 2025. An author and professional writer, Ms Pender will take some time off to focus on this pursuit.
• Mason Nguyen will take time to pursue his music career but will remain connected to the College as a relief teacher.
• Ryan Brownlie, an alumni, will be teaching at Kingsway Christian College next year. We wish Mr Brownlie all the best.
• Hennielie Enslin is retiring from full-time teaching next year but will continue supporting students through tutoring. We wish Mrs Enslin God’s rich blessings and thank her for a wonderful teaching career.
• Michelle Qaqish finishes her role formally as Family Accounts Officer after many years of dedicated service.
• Claire Killian, Primary Head of PK-3, finishes at the end of the year to work full-time in Early Learning commercially.
• Abigail Scott is moving south of the river.
• Gary Ward, from our Grounds team, is relocating to Albany.
• Catherine da Silva will be on leave next year with her family in the South West.
• Jonathan Grullis, an alumni, and Roisin Dornan, who have both been on leave this year, will not return in 2025. We wish them all the best.

I also want to thank the following staff members who have fulfilled short-term roles for the College and will finish at the end of the year:

• David Stokoe, Secondary Health & PE
• Katie Miller, Primary School Nurse
• Zachary Inglis, Secondary Arts
• Phil Webster, Secondary Arts
• Ashleigh Milne, Secondary English
• Kate Westcott, Primary teacher
• Glen Downing, Primary teacher

Additionally, Bellise Ame, Arts intern and alumni, will depart the College as she enters her final year of a Primary teaching degree. Go Bellise!

We are excited to welcome new staff members in 2025, having successfully recruited an excellent group of educators who will bring fresh perspectives and enthusiasm to the College community.

I want to sincerely thank all departing staff for their contributions and wish them God’s richest blessings.

Looking Ahead

As we prepare for 2025, I am excited about the growth, opportunities, and new traditions awaiting us. For 35 years, LJBC students have been the heartbeat of our College, inspiring our purpose as the true leaders of our school community.

On behalf of all staff, I wish our families a joyful and safe Christmas. May the light and hope found in Christ fill your homes this season, and may you return safely in the new year.

With gratitude,

Paul Sonneman-Smith
College Principal

Lake Joondalup Baptist College is now accepting applications for our Aspire Academic Enrichment Program for Year 7 students in 2026.

Our Aspire program teaches students with Gifted and Talented potential to think critically, develop creativity and work on collaboration and communication through specialised Aspire classes, academic competitions, and mentoring programs.

To apply, please complete the form below or contact Ms Ashleigh Cartledge at aspire@ljbc.wa.edu.au.

Applications close March 31 2025.

Last night, we came together to celebrate the achievements of our Year 7–11 students at the Lake Joondalup Baptist College Awards Evening. Our auditorium was filled with proud parents, friends, and staff, creating a special atmosphere to celebrate our students' dedication and hard work. The audience enjoyed outstanding performances from our Swing Band, College Choir, Primary Rock Band, and violin section, highlighting the musical talent at LJBC.

A huge thank you to our teachers and staff for their unwavering support this year, helping each student to be known, grow, and succeed.

What better way to start the day than with the joyful sound of Christmas Carols! Recently, our talented Orchestra greeted students and parents with live performances as they arrived at school. Songs of the season brought smiles to everyone’s faces and set the perfect tone for the countdown to Christmas.

Thank you to our dedicated young musicians for spreading holiday cheer and creating such a warm, welcoming atmosphere, bringing our community together.

The Year 6 students proudly hosted their annual Market Day this week, showcasing the end-result of a term’s hard work and dedication in our Humanities and Social Sciences unit about Economics and Business. The process involved the students collaborating on business ideas, researching products, pitching their business idea in Shark Tank-style to the teachers and budgeting and decorating their stalls. It was so rewarding to see their business skills shine and to see their positive interactions while serving Year 1 – 5 students. There were a variety of stalls including stickers, jibets, popcorn, jelly, fairy floss, games, cookie decorating and so much more! The Year 6 students will be donating the profits raised to an international charity organisation called House of Hope, Africa.

Michelle Kruger
Year 6 Teacher

Our Year 7 Drama students had an incredible time learning exciting new skills when Jo and his team from Suitcase Circus visited LJBC! From learning the art of juggling to balancing on a unicycle and spinning plates, the students were clearly very impressed.

This workshop wasn't just about tricks — it encouraged creativity, coordination and confidence-building in an entertaining way. It was great to see students step out of their comfort zones, try something new, and have fun while doing it.

The Pre Kindergarten Teddy Bears' Picnic was a delightful gathering filled with smiles, fun play and quality time for our youngest students and their families. The event brought parents and children together to share food, games and laughter in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
It was great to see parents joining their little ones in activities that encouraged connection and fun. The picnic wasn’t just about enjoying the day; it was a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the sense of community that makes our school special.
We’re grateful to everyone who participated and helped make the day a success, celebrating the joy of learning, fun and friendship!

I thought I would take this opportunity to say a final farewell and thank you to Cadets and their families. It has been a wonderful experience being involved with the program over the years and it is a privilege to witness the growth of all involved as skills and leadership have developed.

We are all very grateful for the time, effort and commitment that our instructors have contributed of their own volition. Special mention to the instigators of the Emergency Services Cadets at LJBC, Mr Lynton Smith and Mr Mark Bywater, who won’t be returning in 2025. It has been a pleasure working alongside such dedicated people over the years.

I am hoping that all Cadets will continue to be involved in the future as we welcome another group of new recruits next year who will need mentoring and training from our experienced leaders. I am also looking forward to hearing how the Cadet Program continues to grow and develop in future years, becoming a more and more integrated part of the College as it is such an effective activity for students to not only serve but to become known, to feel like they belong and to be accepted.

To show our appreciation to the Cadet Leaders for their hard work throughout the year, we had an invitation-only trip to Maxed Out, which was a huge success judging by the smiles.

If you have any queries relating to the Cadet program, please contact the College on 9300 7444.

Jenny Pontarelli
Unit Leader

It’s been an incredible year for the Aspire students, who have participated in 9 competitions and developed their critical thinking skills, communication skills, collaborative thinking, and creativity as they tackled real-world problems of the present and future.

Most recently, Our Year 7 and 8 Ethics teams competed in the Ethics Olympiad. It was a wonderful Ethics season with the Year 8 team, comprised of Harry, Stefan, Lily, and Katie being awarded second place! The students are now invited to International Finals in February.

Earlier this year I participated in the Ethics Olympiad where we came second, the Ethics Olympiad is a competition where you have to think about different cases and discuss different questions surrounding the case. I most enjoyed listening to all the different opinions of all the different teams and taking that into our own arguments and working with a variety of people I didn’t know before. I also enjoyed learning things that were often not taught in the classroom, such as ethics and philosophy. I am now excited to participate in the international finals in February next year - Harry, Year 8 student

Ashleigh Cartledge
Aspire Coordinator

This week, we celebrated the incredible achievements of our Primary school students at the Lake Joondalup Baptist College Primary Awards Presentation. It was great to see so many smiling faces and proud moments as our young students were recognised for their hard work, dedication and successes. To kickstart the event, our Primary Choir set the tone with a beautiful performance, followed by the very entertaining Primary Rock Band. A big thank you to all the families, teachers and staff who made this event so special.

We are excited to share that our 2023 Drama Captain, Brock Klompmaker has been accepted to study a Diploma of Musical Theatre at WAAPA next year!

You may remember Brock from his roles in previous College Productions such as, Puffs, High School Musical, Laughing Stock, The Little Mermaid, and Shrek Jr!

“I just wanted to say a massive thank you to Mrs Jones and everyone in the LJ Arts Department. That’s where my passion truly stems from and I am so thankful for the opportunities.” Brock Klompmaker

We are so proud of Brock for pursuing his passions and grateful to be a part of his journey.

Madelaine Jones
Acting Head of Learning - The Arts

“Well, I was fast finding out what the meaning of life ain’t. It ain’t money and it ain’t having ya palm read. So what was it? What was I missing? Christmas of course!”

On Wednesday 27 November, the cast of Hit The Road Jack explored the question, “What is the meaning of life?” We followed Jack, a private eye who took on the case to figure it out. Along the way, he met Gypsy, some Christmas Elves and even got some answers from our Primary School audience members!  Jack stumbles across a street theatre group who are presenting the Christmas story and how Jesus came to earth to save us. Upon hearing this good news, Jack learns that the meaning of life is based on being in a relationship with God, the one who loves and created us.

The cast did an amazing job throughout the rehearsal period and during the two performances. The audience thoroughly enjoyed themselves, evidenced when a Kindy student yelled out “Again!” after the bows. Thank you to the parents and teachers who also came along to support the cast.

That’s all for 2024 in the Drama department! Save the date for the 2025 Senior School Production of How To Get Away With A Murder Mystery in Week 8 Term 1.

Eileen Devereux
Acting Director of Drama

Our Year 6 students are enjoying a well-deserved day at OutBack Splash today, celebrating their final days in Primary School. It’s a special moment as we prepare to welcome them into our High School community next year. We look forward to seeing them grow and thrive in this next exciting chapter of their lives!

As we near the end of another fantastic year, we want to take a moment to reflect on the success of 2024 and share some exciting updates for the LJBC Football Academy in 2025.

A Year of Growth and Achievement

This year has been a landmark one for the Academy, marked by incredible student development, outstanding team performances and the introduction of new opportunities to enhance our program.

Highlights of 2024 include:

• Borussia Dortmund Partnership: We became an Official Youth Development Partner of Borussia Dortmund, providing our students access to a world-class network renowned for youth development, the BVB E-Academy platform, and future opportunities to train in Germany and visit partner clubs across Asia.
• International Competitions: Our U14 Girls represented us proudly at the SingaCup in Singapore, showcasing their skills against international competition.
• State & National Success: Several of our teams reached State Finals in the SSWA Champion Schools Competition, and many students earned professional contracts and state or national team call-ups.
• Pathways Abroad: Graduates achieved scholarships at U.S. colleges, including West Virginia University and Central Illinois College.

We’re immensely proud of these accomplishments and grateful for the support of students, parents, and staff who made this possible.

Acknowledging Individual Achievements

Professional Contracts/Clubs

• Daniel Bennie: Signed a 3-year contract with Queens Park Rangers (English Championship)
• James Overy: Signed a 3-year contract with Manchester United (English Premier League)
• Khoa Ngo: Signed a 1-year contract with Perth Glory (Australian A-League)
• Gio De Abreu: Represented Bayern Munich’s World Squad in the USA and Germany and has been selected again for 2025

State and National Representatives

• National Teams:
• Manolo Veneracion: Selected for the Philippines U19 squad for the ASEAN Games.
• Daniel Bennie: Scored against China while representing Australia U20 National Team.
• Aaron Mukundu: Selected for Zimbabwe U17 for upcoming AFCON and U17 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
• WA State Team Representatives:
• Matias Morillo, Sean Doyle, Andy Bushell Hernandez, Will Carter, Noah Lowden, Daisy Snowden, Madison Navias, Halle Snowden, Abby Bastock, Gabriel Schmeidgen

Congratulations to all these students for their hard work, dedication, and exceptional achievements.

Exciting Changes for 2025

Looking ahead, we are thrilled to announce several updates to the Football Academy structure and programming:

Borussia Dortmund Initiatives

• BVB Camp (April 2025): In Week 10 Term 1, we’ll host Borussia Dortmund Youth Academy coaches for a week-long training camp. More information regarding the schedule for this week will be communicated to parents and students in Term 1 next year.
• Secondary Boys Germany Tour (December 2025): Expressions of interest are now open for Boys Football Academy students (Years 8–12). The tour includes training at Borussia Dortmund , matches against European opposition, visits to other Bundesliga clubs and cultural experiences in Germany.

Primary Program Rebranding: BVB Pre-Academy

The Primary Football Program will now be known as the BVB Pre-Academy, focusing on inclusivity and earlier development.
Key Updates:

• Expanded to include students from Year 3–6, welcoming both boys and girls.
• Unified training for Academy and Development groups, ensuring equal access to high-quality coaching.
• Tailored ability-based training and fluid group movement to meet individual development needs.

New Secondary Transition Pathways

Starting Term 4, 2025, Year 6 students in the BVB Primary Pre-Academy will be selected to transition into one of two programs for Year 7: the Secondary BVB Football Academy or the Secondary Football Development Program. This will done on evaluation of students performance across Year 6.

As we close out the year, we are inspired by the dedication and progress of our students and the unwavering support of the College community. The coming year promises even greater opportunities for development, growth, and success. Thank you for being an integral part of the LJBC Football Academy. We look forward to continuing this journey together in 2025 and beyond.

Kind regards,
LJBC Football Academy Coaches

As we wrap up another year at Lake Joondalup Baptist College, we want to thank our dedicated staff, whose hard work, commitment, and passion have made this year a success for our students and the entire LJBC school community. We appreciate everything you do to make LJBC a place where every student is known and can grow and thrive.
Thank you for your continued support and for being such an important part of our journey.

Our Secondary Reception will close at midday on Friday 20 December, and reopen on Monday 6 January.

As the year draws to a close and the festive season is upon us, I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey we've shared in 2024. It has been a year filled with challenges, growth and achievements, and every member of Arcadia House should be proud of their contributions.

Thank you, students, for your unwavering dedication, hard work, and house spirit. You’ve embodied what it means to be a true Arcadian - excelling in the classroom, giving your all in sports carnivals, showcasing your creativity in arts and culture, or stepping up as a leader.

Our successes this year are a testament to the teamwork and camaraderie that make our house truly special. Some of our great achievements were winning the Readers Cup for the first time since this competition started in 2018 and coming second in the Eisteddfod competition. Each of you has played a role in shaping our house culture and driving us forward; I am so proud of you.

I would also like to congratulate all the Arcadia students who will receive a letter soon, acknowledging your Good Standing for Semester 2 of 2024. Thank you for your dedication and commitment by supporting and making our College values your priority. Practising our values of Wisdom, Justice, Mercy and Humility is truly what it means to be part of the College community.

To our Arcadians leaving at the end of this year, we wish you all the best on your new journey. Know that you will be sorely missed.

As we head into the Christmas break, we hope you take this time to rest, recharge and enjoy precious moments with family and friends. May your holiday season be filled with joy, laughter and the spirit of giving.

Pope Francis said “God never gives someone a gift they are not capable of receiving. If he gives us the gift of Christmas, it is because we all have the ability to understand and receive it”.

From all of us at Arcadia House, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year. We look forward to seeing you in 2025, ready to take on new challenges and continue building on the incredible foundation we've laid together.

Stay safe and enjoy the well-deserved break!

God bless,

Santie Brink
Head of House Arcadia

What a fantastic year 2024 has been! We've had the privilege of meeting with an incredible group of Chaplaincy Delegates each week, all guided by our wonderful Chaplaincy Captains. Recently, we said farewell to our 2024 Captains – Giselle, Jordan and Chris – and warmly welcomed our new 2025 Captains, Nic and Charis. It’s been a memorable year with our 2024 Captains and we wish them all the best in 2025 and beyond. We are excited about the great things to come with our incoming Captains.
Our Bible study group, Transform, led by Giselle, has recently concluded and is now transitioning to our Year 11 leaders, who will continue the great work.
Our Chips and Chat groups have also finished off with some Christmas craft and fun.
The Gideons Bible group visited our Year 7s, distributing mini New Testament Bibles to all students, a meaningful experience for our young learners.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to the Chaplaincy department this year. We greatly appreciate your involvement and look forward to welcoming our current students and the new Year 7s in 2025.
God bless and Merry Christmas to all as we celebrate the birth of Jesus!

Catherine da Silva
Secondary Chaplain

As we approach the close of another year, I want to take this opportunity to thank all James House families for your incredible support throughout 2024. Your partnership has been a vital blessing in fostering a sense of community and growth. It’s through this shared commitment that our James students have continued to flourish in wisdom, character, connection, and achievement.

Last night at our Year 7 – 11 Awards Evening, we celebrated some truly inspiring students who have gone above and beyond in living out the values of service and humility. A huge congratulations to the recipients of the 2024 Citizenship Awards:

• Aimee (Year 7)
• Masibulele (Year 8)
• Martin (Year 10)
• Paige (Year 11)

Your dedication to helping and caring for others is a beautiful reflection of Christ’s love, and we couldn’t be prouder of your example within our community. Congratulations also to all the students who received recognition for their academic accomplishments and for showing ongoing hard work and persistence to achieve their academic goals. Well done to our Year 10 Dux-winner, Abigail and our Year 11 Dux-winner, Sean. I am incredibly proud of you! 

I’d also like to congratulate all our James students who will soon receive letters by mail, recognising them as Students of Good Standing for Semester 2, 2024. This achievement highlights your consistent punctuality, sense of responsibility, and commitment to living out the College’s values of Wisdom, Justice, Mercy, and Humility. Your efforts do not go unnoticed, and I applaud you for being role models within our College community.

As we prepare for the Christmas season, I pray that each of you will find time to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas - the gift of Christ’s birth and the hope, joy and peace that His presence brings. May this time be one of rest and renewal, filled with God’s blessings and the warmth of family and friends.

I also want to farewell those James House students who are embarking on new journeys next year. Whether you are moving schools, relocating, or pursuing new opportunities, we will miss your presence in our community. As you step into this next chapter, know that you take with you our prayers, best wishes, and the love of the James House family.

To our 2025 Year 12 James students, I look forward to celebrating with you at the Year 12 Ball on January 29th. It will be a wonderful way to commence your final year at Lake Joondalup Baptist College.

Thank you all for a wonderful year. Wishing you a safe, joyous, and Christ-filled Christmas.

Anmar van der Westhuizen
Head of James House