Welcome to Term 3

I begin by extending thanks to you all, on behalf of the College Management Team, for your patience and understanding during the challenging last week of Term 2, to the sudden onset of changes relating to the COVID-19 situation in WA. Our hope is that you were still able to enjoy the holiday break, despite the probable impact to many of your travelling plans, and that students have returned feeling refreshed and ready to embrace this term.

Our staff have returned to Term 3 with great anticipation for a term filled with opportunities and celebrations as we continue to journey with your child(ren). We have a number of changes to staff for various reasons:

At the end of Term 2, we farewelled Kim Edwards (Secondary French Teacher) and Avril Smyth (College Reception/Administration). We also learned that Maria Gutierrez (Lopez) (Secondary Humanities Teacher) will not be returning from overseas. Rachael Ramsay (Secondary Art Teacher) and Jacinta Bonner (Primary Music Teacher) have now commenced parental leave to await the arrival of a new addition to each family.

A number of staff have commenced a well-deserved long service break, including Anmar van der Westhuizen (Head of House James/Secondary English Teacher), Gillian Smith (Primary Teacher) and Cheri Pestell (Primary Teacher), and we have welcomed back from long service leave Jodie Southwell (Secondary Science Technician), Reuben Farr (Head of House Batavia) and Ingrid Murray (Primary Art Assistant), and Liz Gray from an extended period of leave. Congratulations to Ingrid Murray who returns after completing studies to qualify as a Specialist Art Teacher.

At the beginning of Term 3, we welcomed the following staff who are new to LJBC:

Laura Barker – Primary Music Teacher; Claire Kilian – Kindergarten Teacher Term 3; Kate Coetzee – Secondary English/Science Teacher (Term 3); Dhammi Azariadis – Secondary French Teacher; Anne Butler – Secondary English Teacher

The College has entered into a partnership with Direction Psychology, and we welcome Danelle Priddy who will join us on campus each Tuesday, providing professional care to students and assisting pastoral and care teams in supporting school wellbeing.

Welcome, Danelle!

Students will have noticed changes which are currently underway around the Canteen, as our talented grounds team work on an exciting project which will enhance the area and provide a ‘café’ style space. Completion is expected by September.

As is the case for every term, Term 3 is filled with events and rich offerings for our students and wider community – please keep the College Calendar close by so you don’t miss anything! We have also published the term dates for 2022, which you will find on the College Website. The website will be updated later in the term, so look out for the change.

We love to congratulate and celebrate with our students as they reach milestones, and we are proud to share news of the following students who have been selected to represent the state in a sporting discipline. The 2021 School Sport Australia Championships was cancelled due to COVID-19; however, School Sport WA selected state teams and will be endeavouring to provide a team experience that remains within the state borders, and we congratulate the following students for their selection:

State Cross Country Team: Keira

State Football (Soccer) 12 Yrs and Under Girls Team: Daisy

State Football (Soccer) 12 Yrs and Under Boys Team: Enzo, Matias, Jensen, Oskar, Zac, Sean, Luke, Levi

As our Year 12 students continue to focus on and prepare for their final months at the College, may I offer my encouragement and support to the students and their families, and I look forward to sharing time with the students and to celebrating with them as they journey towards their next chapter.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says God, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

God Bless

Paul Sonneman-Smith

College Principal