A huge congratulations to LJBC Alumni Daniel Bennie who helped the Young Socceroos not only secure a spot in the finals with a brilliant 2-0 victory over Japan but also for their historic win at the AFC U20 Asian Cup against Saudi Arabia on Saturday night, 1 March.

Australia clinched the title for the first time, defeating Saudi Arabia in the final in Shenzhen, China, in a thrilling penalty shootout. Daniel was one of the key players for Australia in the final and throughout the Asian Cup campaign, scoring 2 goals.

As a result of their performances in the Asian Cup, Daniel and the team have now qualified for the U20 FIFA World Cup which will be held in Chile in September.

Sian Williams, 2024 LJBC Collegian, has won the prestigious National Ampol All Rounder Award!
Sian stood out among students from over 2,000 schools across Australia as a student who exemplified qualities of High Academic standards, sporting excellence and service to her community. As part of this award, Sian receives a laptop, a $5,000 cash grant, and a $1,000 Ampol gift card, plus an additional $5,000 grant for Lake Joondalup Baptist College.
We’re extremely proud of Sian’s exceptional accomplishment and wish her every success in her future studies.
Congratulations Sian!

Congratulations to our Head Boy Anttwon, who has recently had some fantastic achievements on the Athletics track - winning 1 Gold and 1 Silver medal in the under 18s WA State Track and Field Championships.

Under 18s 100m 
GOLD with a time of 10.77s

Under 18s 200m
Silver with a time of 22.17s

Congratulations Anttwon!

Congratulations to Ethan, who has been selected to represent Western Australia in the Under-16 Gold Hockey Team. 

Well done Ethan! We can't wait to hear about the results from this season.

When I was a primary school teacher, I believed I was responsible for everything in each of my student’s lives. If the student was not behaving, learning, loving school, or making friends, it was my job to fix it. While I believe that thinking came from a good place – I really wanted my students to flourish – the belief that I was solely responsible for each student’s growth and happiness was incredibly faulty. It put an unnecessary burden on myself and undermined the competence of both the student and their parents.

When you care about a child, it can be unclear when to step in and when to step back. My general guidelines are below:

• Focus on growing competence. This applies to both children and adults. I ask myself, “If I take responsibility, will I undermine their competence or encourage it?” As a simple example, if I tie an 8-year-old child’s shoelaces every day, they will not learn to do it. The more I take responsibility for shoelaces (or their room, their grades, their choices), the less opportunity they have to learn. And importantly, I will always be responsible.
• They are responsible for their choices. If a child is sad, disappointed, or has made a large mistake, it can be tempting to rush in and fix the problem. For example, you might pay the speeding fine, finish their work, or write an excuse for not finishing the assessment. When you take responsibility for their choices, they don’t learn how to carry that weight. The weight is their responsibility, and the carrying needs to be practiced.
• You are responsible for scaffolding. Scaffolding is the structure around something that provides support/strength. In teaching, this is good instruction, care for students, feedback, and differentiation (amongst other things). It is that scaffolding that helps students make good choices. At home you might scaffold by ensuring they have a place to study, being kind, not shaming them, and feeding them meals. You provide scaffolding so they can flourish and make good choices within those structures.
• School or parent? This is heavily debated in the news, with headlines stating that “teachers should be teaching (insert just about anything)” and “parents need to do better at (insert almost anything here too)”. Neither parent nor teacher is solely responsible for the child because we are a community. We should be working together within our own skill set and collaboratively. I see great change when both the school and the parents own their part.

Deciding what you are responsible for and what you are not is very important work. It helps make it clear when you should show up and when you should let others take over. It reduces your stress because you are only doing things that you should be doing, and it allows other people to grow in competence and confidence.

Our Year 10 Drama and Year 12 Music students recently enjoyed watching the annual Performing Arts Perspectives at His Majesty’s Theatre. The students were inspired by the gifted performers showing off a range of talents including dance, drama and music. Some highlights included a stunning piano and saxophone rendition of It Could Happen To You and a comic neighbour dealing with next doors dog.

Students were buzzing after the show and returned to school with so much encouragement for their own future performances.

Eileen Devereux
Acting Director of Drama

On Thursday, 20 February, a group of Year 11 ATAR Biology and Year 12 Science in Practice General Students headed to Picnic Cove and Neil Hawkins Park for an all-day Comparison Study excursion on Aquatic Ecosystems. This program was presented by a staff member from ‘Nearer to Nature’ – Parks and Wildlife.

Students have learned that Wetlands are highly diverse ecosystems and many of the organisms that inhabit the wetland live beneath the surface of the water.

Students have tested different water parameters, classified Macro-organisms from the Lake using a Dichotomous Key and study the wildlife in and around the Lake. All this information was then used in the classroom to bring it all together, by comparing the data collected at the two different sites, and data previously collected at the Lake. Our students were all very engaged and excellent representatives of our College, well done students!

Santie Brink and Andrea Orlowsky
Science Teachers

The Music Department has had an exciting and busy start to the year. In Week 3, all of our bands and ensembles began rehearsing in preparation for the Open Evening in Week 9. There will be a wide range of talents and musical styles represented on the night with many of our pop, rock and contemporary bands featured, as well the Swing Band and a full Orchestra. It is so encouraging to see the diverse musical talents on display here at the College.

In Week 4, the Year 11 VET Music students did their first performance of the year at the Batavia and Cumberland House Assembly. The students managed their own sound set up, pack up and transition from the two venues with ease and professionalism. They performed with confidence, excellent ensemble skills and communicated the emotion of the piece to their audience. A huge thank you to Adelle Brown, one of our Music Teachers, for preparing the students for this performance.

On March 6, the Year 7 and 8 Specialist Music Classes and the Year 12 ATAR Music Students had the opportunity to watch the WA Symphony Orchestra’s Open Rehearsal at Winthrop Hall at UWA. We began the morning with a pre-rehearsal talk explaining the background to the pieces we would hear and the Orchestra’s process for preparing for their performances. The students were privileged to witness the World Premiere of “The Light Fantastic”, a piece written by a Perth-based composer, James Ledger, for the WASO as they bring their new concert series to Winthrop Hall. Alexander Gavrylyuk, the Ukranian-born world famous pianist, stunned the students with his performance of Rachmaninov’s piece, Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini. It was an unforgettable experience for all and I am very proud of the students and the way they represented the College so well on the day.

Nina Shinkfield
Acting Director of Music

Last week, 36 LJBC students participated in the Australian Computational and Linguistics Olympiad (OzCLO), a challenging competition that tests problem-solving skills and creative thinking. We're thrilled to announce that our Year 12 team secured first place in the state competition! Their outstanding performance has earned them an invitation to the national finals at the University of Western Australia in just a few weeks.
This achievement is even more remarkable because our team competed without formal training sessions beforehand. We made this decision to ensure our students didn't miss important teaching time, which makes their victory even more impressive.
Congratulations to Sofia, Emma, Robyn, and Sean on their fantastic achievement. We look forward to seeing what you accomplish at the national finals.

Ashleigh Cartledge
Aspire Academic Extension Coordinator

This week, 55 of our Year 10-12 students proudly represented LJBC at the Senior CAS Day Carnival. It was great to see the incredible effort and sportsmanship displayed by our students throughout the day. Congratulations to everyone involved!
Special mention to our Senior Boys Basketball team, who have qualified for the finals series and our Female Senior Volleyball team (Pictured) who came 5th overall. All the best for this coming season!

The Vocational Education and Training (VET) program, offered through CareerLink, has been a remarkable success for our students in Years 10 to 12. This program allows students to attend TAFE courses once a week while continuing their regular school studies. It has been a great start to the year, and we have received excellent feedback from the different training organisations. Students are getting used to the structure of learning in a TAFE environment and are enjoying the experience.

The feedback from our students has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the benefits and unique experiences they have gained. One student mentioned, "My experience with my VET course so far has been really good as I have made so many friends and learned lots of exciting things in the beauty industry. I love this course so much”. Students have also enjoyed the independence and responsibility that comes with the VET program. One student completing the Cert IV in Education Support shared, "I really like the independence of the course. I also like the idea that I can leave school with a qualification for the profession I would like to do and have the option to go straight into a job role."

Balancing VET courses with regular schoolwork has been manageable for most students, though some have faced challenges. One student noted, "At the beginning of my course, I really struggled to keep up with both sets of assignments, but I eventually found a balance." Another student mentioned, "I feel good about the balance between the VET course and my regular schoolwork so far. I haven't been absent at all." Support from teachers and lecturers has been crucial in helping students manage their schedules. One Year 12 Cert IV in Community Services student expressed gratitude, saying, "Both my school teachers and lecturer are understanding and have helped me balance my schoolwork."

Students have shared various aspects they enjoy and find challenging about the VET program. Many appreciate the opportunity to gain practical experience in the world of work. One student said, "I like that I am able to experience a glimpse into the real work world and participate in the career and area I love the most." Some students have mentioned the challenges of the travel involved. One student shared, "The travel to Fremantle can be overwhelming and rushed in the mornings, but I have never shown up late, which is a positive." One of our students completing the Cert II Automotive Pre-Apprenticeship expressed a unique challenge, admitting, "I dislike that I can't do it every single day of the week! "

Overall, the VET program through CareerLink has provided our students with valuable skills, independence, and a head start in their chosen careers. We are proud of their achievements and look forward to seeing their continued success.

Robyn Mentzal and Bronwyn McCue
VET Coordinators

Our Year 7 students recently embarked on a thrilling Mission Impossible-styled challenge as part of their library orientation - and we’re happy to report that the mission was a huge success!

Paired up in teams, students raced against the clock to locate and scan 26 hidden QR codes throughout the library. Each code revealed important information about the services and collections on offer. But the pressure was on - those who didn’t complete the mission in time were playfully “disavowed by the state”!

Stephen Sampson
Head of Secondary Library Services

We are SO excited to share that tickets for our 2025 Senior School Production of How To Get Away With A Murder Mystery are now live!

Five mysterious color-coded guests. A mansion. A murder. Can the killer get away with it? And how will the sleuths bring them to justice? A handy guide for how to escape the law when you just happen to be a prime suspect of a mysterious murder. Told in vignettes, this show hilariously skewers the tropes of the murder mystery: an airtight alibi, a long-winded monologue by a detective with an accent, an impossibly complicated Rube Goldberg murder device? Check, check, and check!

We can't wait to see you in the audience on Thursday 27 and Friday 28 March 6pm in the College Auditorium!

Seating is first in best dressed. Accessible seating is available in the back left rows of the Auditorium. Please see reserved signage.

Psst! Did we mention tickets are FREE!?

Eileen Devereux
Acting Director of Drama

We’ve been having a lot of fun in Aspire lately! Our Year 9-10 Aspire students have been diving into the world of criminology and forensics, exploring how investigative technologies have evolved over time, from early polygraph tests to fingerprinting, and the breakthroughs in DNA analysis.

Lately, we’ve been looking at careers in the field, starting with forensic anthropology. Students got their hands dirty (literally) by excavating 'bones' from our garden, analysing their findings, and piecing together the identity of a fictional missing person. We then stepped into the world of CSI, experimenting with blood spatter analysis using red paint and a variety of objects to test how blood spatters are created with different actions, objects, and levels of force. We’ve also been testing our detective skills with tyre and shoe impression analysis, using toy cars of varying sizes, tyre patterns, and wheelbases to make predictions about directions of travel.

It’s been a really fun and engaging few weeks of hands-on learning, and we can’t wait to see where the students’ investigations take them next!

Ashleigh Cartledge
Aspire Academic Enrichment Coordinator

Students enthusiastically represented their Houses at the Secondary Inter House Swimming Carnival, enjoying a break from their regular classes while spending time with their friends and enjoying a (competitive) cool dip in the water. Thank you to all participants for your efforts and to everyone who supported their Houses on the day. Congratulations to the swimmers for making the carnival an enjoyable event.

We recently held our first Secondary Celebration Assembly, bringing together all our Secondary students to acknowledge and celebrate some outstanding achievements. It was wonderful to see our students united as a group, recognising the impressive efforts within our College community.
During the assembly, we introduced our new Secondary Student Leaders, with our Head Boy and Head Girl proudly declaring the Pledge of Leadership on behalf of the Leadership group. College Certificates of Excellence were awarded, highlighting our students' commitment and hard work. We were also privileged to welcome Hon. Mayor Albert Jacobs, who presented the City of Joondalup Award, and we celebrated Sian Williams receiving the prestigious National Ampol Award.

On Wednesday 19 February the Year 11 Drama class attended the 2025 Drama Day at Penrhos College. The event included over one hundred students from private schools in the Perth metropolitan area who participated in a day of drama workshops. Industry professionals led the students through activities in stage fighting, acting technique and improvisation. It was a fun-filled day which gave everyone the opportunity to learn valuable skills and make new friends.

Eileen Devereux
Acting Director of Drama

We are delighted to announce that Year 11 student Sean has been awarded the City of Joondalup Youth Award. This prize honours exceptional students in our community and includes financial support towards essential educational costs such as school fees, uniforms, and excursions for Years 11 and 12.
We were privileged to welcome Lord Mayor Albert Jacob to our recent College Assembly to present Sean with his certificate. Sean’s achievement highlights the dedication and character that we value at Lake Joondalup Baptist College.
Congratulations Sean, we’re proud to celebrate this achievement with you!

Primary School Assemblies at LJBC are all about celebrating our students and bringing our community together. Each Assembly features a class performance, and LJ the Lion is always on hand to share a small dance and help present certificates. We also love welcoming our Primary Parents when they drop by. A great way to celebrate our young learners, recognise their achievements, and share the joy of learning.

Our students and staff proudly wore purple, standing together to recognise and celebrate International Women’s Day. We recognise the strength, achievements, and contributions of women in our College and beyond and look forward to a future where students everywhere are valued and celebrated.

We are delighted to announce that Paul Lambert—UEFA Champions League winner with Borussia Dortmund, former Celtic captain, and highly experienced manager in the English Premier League—will be visiting LJBC to work with our Football Academy students as part of the BVB Camp in Week 10 this term.

Paul Lambert enjoyed a highly successful playing career, winning the UEFA Champions League with Borussia Dortmund. He also captained Celtic, winning multiple domestic titles, and went on to have a distinguished managerial career, leading numerous English Premier League clubs including Aston Villa, Norwich City and Blackburn Rovers. Paul is now the Technical Director of Asia-Pacific for Borussia Dortmund (BVB).

At the end of last month, our Kindy Parent Connect invited parents to a welcoming morning at Lake Joondalup Baptist College. Over a cup of tea and some light refreshments, Kindy parents had the chance to meet each other, chat with staff, and connect with members of the LJBC P&F. A great way to start the year!

To register please click on the link below

To register for the Year 7 Open Evening please click on the link below

Students in Year 12, Year 11, and Year 10 are invited to apply for College Colours each term. College Colours are prestigious awards that recognise outstanding contributions and achievements in the following areas:

• Curriculum
• Cultural
• Service
• Sport

To be eligible, students must excel beyond expectations, demonstrating not only high levels of Achievement but also strong Service and Leadership within each category.

Important Information:

• Applications and criteria for each area can be accessed online from the College Website in the link below.

If you have questions or need guidance on preparing your application, please reach out to any member of the Colours Committee. They are available to assist you in getting started.

Start planning your application today and showcase your excellence!

2025 Committee Members: Mrs Eyre- Chairperson, Mr Moffatt, Ms Cartledge, Mrs Lhota, Mr Smith, Mr Tyrie, Mrs L Hopkins, Mrs Orlowsky

Due Dates for each Term are as follows:

Term 1- 11 April

Term 2- 4 July

Term 3- Year 12 only 14 August

Term 3- Year 10 and Year 11- 26 September

Mrs Eyre
Head of Future Directions

We understand that circumstances change, and family plans can shift. If you think you may withdraw your child from Lake Joondalup Baptist College in 2025, please let us know as soon as possible. To assist with a smooth transition and in accordance with College policy, we ask that written notice be addressed to the College Registrar at least ten school weeks in advance.
Early notice helps us plan effectively and offer places to families on our waitlist. If you have any questions or need assistance, our Enrolments team is here to help.