College News 2025 - Term 1 Week 5

From the Headmaster

Dear BBC Families,

Renowned Australian author and educator Dr Kerry Howells has spent her career exploring the significance of gratitude, both for individuals and communities. Being grateful reinforces positive emotions that reduce stress, promote a more positive outlook, and, above all else, make you feel good. The effects of this gratitude not only improve the inner feelings of the individual who experiences this powerful positive emotion but also radiate out to impact those around them – much like ripples extending out from a stone dropped into a puddle. Howells’ research further posits that real gratitude, or, as she terms it, “True Gratitude”, has two phases. Initially, an individual feels appreciation, but to take the next step to fulfilment, the individual must act on this feeling in some way. As Robert Emmons stated, “Gratitude can potentially satisfy our deepest yearnings – our ceaseless quest for wholeness and contentment.”

With this sentiment in mind, I would like to ‘practice what I preach’ and extend my sincere and unwavering gratitude to the BBC community. I find moments of wonder and joy each day in my interactions with the magnificent young men at the College and our extended community of staff, parents, and Old Collegians. To be truly grateful, as Kerry Howells would define it, it is essential that I express that gratitude at the time of its genesis with those who have gifted me with that wonderful opportunity. It certainly is an endeavour to which I aspire. I know that I do not always succeed, but I will never cease my ambition to try. 

And so, I must share my immense gratitude to the BBC community for your unbelievable efforts on last week’s Giving Day. Through the altruism of our College family and the generous matching donations of the BBC Foundation, we exceeded our target of $200,000 – a magnificent achievement that we can all be proud of. I am inspired by the generosity of spirit exhibited by so many. Through your efforts, we have the opportunity to make our iconic campus even better. Thank you! As we have shared, the funds will be used to ‘raise the roof’ on the Noblet Oval spectator stand, which is currently under construction. This is going to be a terrific enhancement of our campus.

Finally, I hope to see as many of you as possible at this year’s Open Day on Sunday, 9 March. Last year, we had an unbelievable turnout despite the inclement weather. Our Open Day allows our community to share the wonder that is a BBC education with the rest of Brisbane. The day will be a celebration of all that happens at the College, as well as a chance to share this brilliance with those who may not be part of our family. If you have some time, it would be wonderful for you to join us on this brilliant day. I look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible.

Yours faithfully, 

Mr Andre Casson
HEADMASTER

Cyber Safety Parent Information Session | Reserve a Seat

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

In Australia, one in five young people have experienced some form of cyberbullying, according to the eSafety Commissioner, highlighting the growing need for awareness and initiative-taking education on cyber safety.  

As part of our ongoing efforts to provide our community with effective strategies and resources for support, we have engaged the expertise of Susan McLean. With over 30 years of experience, including her role as the first Victorian Police Officer focused on cyber safety, Susan is one of Australia’s leading experts in online safety for young people. She brings unmatched insight into the challenges young people face in the digital world. 

Please diarise this and join us for this hard-hitting issue facing our students and society. Susan's sessions are designed to educate students, parents, and educators about staying safe in the digital world. Her sessions challenge students to reflect on their online behaviours and understand the long-term consequences, not just for today, but for their future. With examples from her extensive experience working with the FBI, elite sports clubs, and global companies, Susan’s message resonates with all. 

Students will specifically learn about digital reputation, the risks of cyberbullying, online grooming, gaming, cat fishing, sextortion, and harmful content through honest discussions. Susan’s age-appropriate messages leave no doubt about what students need to do to protect themselves online. 

Do not miss the opportunity to learn from one of Australia’s most respected and experienced cyber safety experts. With her straightforward approach and unmatched expertise, join us to help keep our children safe in today’s increasingly complex digital world.

Warm regards,  
Mr Scott Murphy 
DEPUTY HEADMASTER 

Tuckshop Update

Dear BBC Families,

We have been made aware of community feedback regarding the BBC Tuckshop and spaces where its operation can be improved.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the community for the feedback. I hope we can make some positive changes across the board to ensure all students, parents, and staff can rely on this service as a quality option for keeping students nourished and ready to learn.

We have formulated an action plan that involves the following steps to ensure we are meeting the desired quality, standard, and price points of our offerings.

Sushi – We have heard that the current sushi is not being well received. Unfortunately, the supplier that was used last year is no longer in business. We are expecting a delivery from an alternate supplier for the final days of this week and will sell the sushi side by side to determine a preference.

Meat Pies – We are trialing the Traveller beef pie as of yesterday (Wednesday, 26 February). This is the same beef pie that was available last year. I am also looking to arrange a pie tasting with some students for direct feedback.

Pricing – This is something that I looked at closely during the changeover to ensure we came as close as we could to the pricing of last year. Below is a comparison of some key items highlighting the change in cost.

Offerings – We started the year as closely aligned to the previous offerings as we could guarantee. We are now increasing the offerings to include a daily pasta dish at lunch as a lower price point option. We also introduced a hot morning tea option in Week 3.

Staff – We have been fortunate to have the majority of staff in the Tuckshop carry over from last year, joining us at Chartwells from the P&F. This has been a greatly appreciated help in trying to align our offerings. It allows us to continue building on lines and provides first-hand experience regarding prior offerings, portion sizes, and output. We are experiencing a heightened demand and are continuing to adapt where necessary and possible. 

Flow – We are trialing a new Point of Sale position on Friday and hope this will increase the pace at which students visiting the Tuckshop can make their choices, complete their purchases, and avoid crowding. We are also trialing some central bollards that are making an improvement, so we will look to make these a permanent fixture.

Facility – As I'm sure you all understand, with a new space come new challenges. We have now secured more delivery days from key suppliers to combat storage limitations and ensure consistency around availability, as well as to certify that orders are being packed correctly. I also understand we are five weeks in and should be getting it right. Please trust that I am giving my all to get this resolved as soon as possible.

Flexischools images and alignment – I will upload imagery for each item to the Flexischools ordering site in due course. Hopefully, this gives an indication of what to expect. If there are any problems with Flexischools and the availability of products, please do reach out to me directly. There is also a live chat helpline on the Flexischools website that can help with any queries regarding account information.

Feedback – Toward the end of the term, the Chartwells team will provide students with a link where they can complete a short survey regarding what they would like to see more of. This will also allow them to voice any concerns regarding the Tuckshop.

As always, I appreciate feedback and can assure you that we are working hard behind the scenes to get this right. I would love nothing more than to implement changes and hear positivity around them, so please do not hesitate to contact me directly if you would like to share your ideas or concerns.

Thank you all.

Kind regards,
Mr Andy Bardsley
HOSPITALITY MANAGER 

From the Head of Secondary School

In last week's Assembly, we inducted our Middle Leaders. Boys undertake a rigorous application process to be appointed as Middle Leaders by their Head of House, which involves a written application and interview. Weekly meetings allow boys to branch out into different initiatives, such as the Boater Repair Shop, and introduce boys to responsibilities grounded in the principles of servant leadership and integrity.

John C. Maxwell, a leading voice in leadership development, says, "A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way." This is what we expect of all of our leaders. True leadership is not about titles or positions but about action, influence, and service. These young men exemplify this philosophy.

Our Middle Leaders serve as role models for younger students, demonstrating the confidence and character we aim to instil as Gentlemen of Honour. Servant leadership is an important part of being a leader at the College. Our Middle Leaders will guide tours on Open Day next weekend, ensuring prospective families feel welcomed and informed. Their role is not just to showcase the school's facilities but to share their experiences, answer questions with honesty and enthusiasm, and make visitors feel a sense of belonging.

Congratulations to the following boys who are Middle Leaders for Semester 1.

Birtles - Zac Short | Campbell - Jack McGown | Cole - Ayaan Chandwani | Flynn - Max Ash | Hamilton - D'Carter Borg| Knox - Charlie Walk | McKenzie - Flynn Otto | Rudd - George Astridge | Wesley - Alistair Gordon | Wheller - Joshua Page

Ms Amelia Apogremiotis
HEAD OF SECONDARY SCHOOL

From the Chaplain

Healthy Fun on a Saturday Night

On Saturday evening, we held our annual PMSA combined ISCF groups Chapel and Ice-Skating Social. About 125 students attended from BBC, Clayfield College, and Somerville House.

We began the night with a fantastic time of worship in the Somerville Chapel. We sang some praise songs, inducted the Somerville leaders into their positions, prayed, read some Bible verses, and listened to an address. This was given by our BBC ISCF Captain, Jacob, who gave a thoughtful and relevant message.

He spoke on leadership and used Philippians 2:6, which was written about Jesus, to make his points:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with

God something to be used to his own advantage…

Jacob spoke about how acts of service shouldn’t be done with the wrong motivation. Real acts of service are done out of love – just like Jesus showed us.

We followed the service with a sausage sizzle and a time for everyone to mix before heading off to Iceworld at Boondall. Everybody had a lot of fun, and there was a wide variety of abilities on display. Some held precariously to the wall while others skated around with ease. Whatever their ability, everyone had a good laugh, good chats, and a good time.

Mr Stephen Ward
COLLEGE CHAPLAIN

Co-Curricular | Sport & Competitive Activities

The stage is set for our swimmers to dive into competition and represent the College with pride at the GPS Swimming Carnival next Friday, 7 March. This is their moment to showcase the hard work, dedication, and determination that have brought them to this point. Every race, every stroke, and every finish will be a testament to their commitment. As our parents would be aware, this is our first major GPS event of the year and it is a great chance for our students to set the tone with school spirit and support.

BBC Swimming recently started working with Apple to Zucchini, a Brisbane-based Performance Nutrition Practice that works with organisations such as Swimming Australia. Our Director of Swimming, Mr Andrew Hancock, has put together some resources to help swimming families prepare for the important weeks ahead (and beyond). Whilst the advice is to help students prepare for GPS Swimming Championships, it can also be applied across all sports and activities at BBC. Parents can access the resources there:

• Recover Well - considerations for meet week
• Fuel Up - considerations for meet day

Below is the upcoming co-curricular school team photography schedule for Term 1 in-season activities. Team photographs taken on these days will be available for purchase from Advanced Life photography later this year and appear in the Portal Yearbook at the end of the year.

Saturday, 1 March | Wyaralong Dam | GPS Rowing Junior Head of the River

Friday, 7 March | Chandler | GPS Swimming

Saturday, 15 March | Wyaralong Dam | GPS Rowing Head of the River

Tuesday 18 March | BBC Old Collegians Pavillion | GPS Cricket, GPS Debating, Sailing, GPS Volleyball

For more information and to stay up to date with the latest news in the world of sports and competitive activities, please visit our Co-Curricular Highlands Page or click on the activity below. This will give you access to weekly team lists, reports, and important information for each in-season activity.   

Volleyball  | Cricket  | Rowing  | Debating  | Swimming

I would like to wish all BBC students the best of luck in Round 5 of the GPS competition at Ipswich Grammar School.

Free Triage Clinic Available to All Students

Please ensure that your son is aware that we offer a free triage clinic every Monday morning from 7am until 8am in Classroom G201 in the Sports Complex. No bookings are required. The initiative is arranged by the BBC Athletic Development Department and offers a professional approach to the treatment and rehabilitation of adolescent sporting injuries, delivering appropriate and comprehensive follow-up management for all students. If you'd like more information, please contact Mr Mitchell Birch, Senior Strength and Conditioning Coach and Rehabilitation Coordinator.

Mr Paul Woodford 
HEAD OF CO-CURRICULAR – SPORTS AND COMPETITIVE ACTIVITIES 

Co-Curricular | Culture and Enrichment

GPS Music Showcase

It was a pleasure to host the GPS Music Showcase for the second year in a row. This is the only GPS event where all member schools combine talents to showcase the dedication of all students involved. We are incredibly fortunate to have the passionate support of Mr Theo Kotzas, Mrs Jenny Hageman, and the entire Music team at BBC to bring this event to life for the GPS.

Twilight Concert | Thursday, 13 March

• 5:50pm | Pre-Concert entertainment
• 6:30pm | College Hall

The Brisbane Boys' College Twilight Concert is fast approaching!  On Thursday, 13 March the Big Band, Jazz Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble, Rock Bands, Collegians, Camerata, Symphonic Band, College Strings and College Symphony will be joined by BBC Singers, Colla Voce, Junior Band and Junior/Acton Strings, Intermezzo Strings, Wind Ensemble and Concert Band in the first performance of 2025.

This is a FREE ticketed event with tickets available from https://bit.ly/Music-Twilight-Concert . Music Support Group will have refreshments available for purchase from 5:30pm.

BBC Service Trip of a Lifetime | Vietnam and Cambodia

From 3 - 22 December 2025, Brisbane Boys' College will be taking interested students on a Vietnam and Cambodia Expedition.

The expedition has 6 key objectives:

• Participating in a community-based service project - helping to build a house. This is largely funded through our own fundraising leading up to the trip.
• Developing leadership skills that involve planning, navigating, and booking accommodation and meals.
• Participating in activities that support and fulfill the criteria used to achieve the Duke of Edinburgh awards.
• Physical activities include hiking, camping, abseiling, mountain biking, and house building.
• Immersion into Vietnamese and Cambodian culture.
• Visits to world renowned cultural and historical sites, such as Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

For those interested it is not too late to register your interest. There is an Information Evening on Thursday, 6 March at 7:00pm in the College Lecture Theatre. We will also have an information table at Open Day on Sunday, 9 March. Please come by and have a chat and find out more about this exciting opportunity. There are up to 35 spots available. The trip is only open to students who are in Years 10 and 11 in 2025.

If your son is interested in this trip of a lifetime you need to email Mr Hogan at khogan@bbc.qld.edu.au, Ms Gilroy at RGilroy@bbc.qld.edu.au, or Mr Bennett at lbennett@bbc.qld.edu.au

Clean Up Australia Day

Clean Up Australia Day is this Sunday, 2 March. The Koala Club will be supporting this environmental initiative on Monday, 3 March during lunch time. Please encourage your sons to join Mrs Fiona Cowan and the Koala Club as they clean up the creek and BBC grounds. Gloves, bins, and hand santitizer will be provided for all students.

Ms Kate Albury
HEAD OF CO-CURRICULAR – CULTURE AND ENRICHMENT

Open Day Update for Families | Sunday, 9 March

We are in the process of organising the personalised rosters for all students from Year 6 to Year 12. Parents can assume that if your son signed up to volunteer on the day that he will be needed and will be rostered on for the day. Thank you to every family whose son has volunteered to help on the day. The day would not be successful without the help of your sons.

All students who signed up to volunteer will have lunch catered for them on the day. Lunch will be served in the Boarding House Dining Room between 11am - 1:30pm for student volunteers to go and get their lunch.

All student volunteers are required to wear their school uniform, including boater hat (or green hat for Junior School boys). No blazers are required.

Further communication will be sent to students and parents via Highlands next week, including the personalised timetables for the students.

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If you know of any families considering sending their son to BBC and they would like to attend Open Day, please direct them to www.bbc.qld.edu.au/open-day-2025 to register their attendance. Only prospective families are requested to register their attendance.

If you are a Junior School family who is interested in finding more about the Secondary School, we encourage you to join us on the day and explore everything on offer in the Secondary School.

You're Invited | Junior Classroom Instrumental Music Open Classes

The BBC Music Department would like to invite all parents and guardians to our upcoming Semester 1 Junior Classroom Instrumental Music Open Classes. The open classes provide an insight into how our Year 4, 5, and 6 Classroom Instrumental Music Program is run, while affording the boys an opportunity to show you the progress they have made on their instruments.

Tuesday, 4 March | Year 6 - 1:30pm | Year 5 - 2:15pm | Band instruments will be in various locations through the Music Department and String instruments will be in the Earl Larmar Rehearsal Room.

Friday, 7 March | Year 4R - 10:55am | Year 4P - 11:50am | Year 4C - 1:30pm | Earl Larmar Rehearsal Room.

Please meet your son at his Junior School classroom and he will accompany you to his music class.

English Department | Request for pre-loved magazines

A school project is being prepared in the English Department which will require the use of magazines. If anyone in the BBC community has a collection of older publications they'd like to donate to assist in this endeavour, they can be dropped at Main Reception by both students and parents.

Thank you for your support on Giving Day

We wanted to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone in the community who helped us reach our $200,000 goal to #RaiseTheRoof on the new Noblet Oval stand. We are very grateful for the incredible support from the entire BBC community. We look forward to continuing to share the progress of the new stand and opening it up to the community for use in 6 months.

We are deeply grateful for your continued support and are excited to continue our mission to provide the best schooling experience for every boy on our campus.

Data Collection Notice

Every year, the College is required to collect and report student and guardian address information.   

Residential address information is used and combined with other data to calculate a non-government school community’s capacity to contribute to the costs of schooling. This may influence the level of Australian Government recurrent funding for non-government schools. The information is also used to inform the Australian Government’s school education policy. We invite you to read the collection notice here.   

To facilitate this process, we ask that you please ensure your address details are correct by checking and updating them in Highlands via the Parent Lounge. 

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