College News 2025 - Term 1 Week 7

From the Headmaster

Dear BBC Families,

No newsletter can be written this week without an acknowledgement of the trials and tribulations experienced by not only the BBC community but much of South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales due to the visit of Tropical Cyclone Alfred. While our campus is mostly unscathed, notwithstanding some now-resolved power issues, the same cannot be said of many in our community and beyond. I must admit, I felt some of the anticipation of Thomas Edison as I tentatively flicked a switch on Tuesday to be greeted by light! However, my reflections here are not tales of damage and inconvenience but rather stories of the resilience and camaraderie that were ubiquitous throughout our community.

I have mentioned on many occasions that the measure of a community is not where we stand in times of triumph or success. Rather, we are defined by our reactions to times of strife and trouble. I am pleased to say that the BBC family has risen to the occasion and shone brightly once again. As I browsed the social media channels used by our community, I was filled with gratitude and awe at the efforts of so many who were seeking to assist others, regardless of their personal circumstances. Families reached out to others without power, offering a place to do washing, access to Wi-Fi, or even a cup of coffee. Students soldiered through this extraordinary situation with admirable poise. Our boarders reconnected with card games, talked to each other, and even read books to while away the day. Some of our Year 12s gathered en masse for a pick-up game of Touch to keep them active after the worst of the weather had passed. These are just a few of the examples of the countless tales of triumph in the face of adversity I have seen in the last week. They tell the story of a community united. A community in which I am honoured to be a member.

As I mentioned, the College has fared reasonably well in the face of the cyclone. Once school resumed, I walked through the campus on my way to the Junior School drop-off and was greeted with scenes like any other day at BBC. The tennis lads were busy with their preseason preparations. Our cricketers were in the nets getting ready to do battle with the boys from TSS over the weekend. Our wonderful Green by Nature team was busily making final preparations throughout the campus. It was very much a normal day. I will admit that the parents at the drop-off were a little more delighted than usual to bring their sons to school than is normally the case, but it was largely just a typical morning at BBC. We still have several small issues to confront, but we stand ready to move forward in typical, stoic BBC fashion.

As we return to normality, please keep an eye on Highlands for communication from activity directors who will be sharing information regarding rehearsal, training, and competitions. Moreover, while fixtures against TSS will still occur over the weekend, there will be some modifications to times and venues as our colleagues down the coast were hit hard by the effects of Cyclone Alfred. Ms Kate Albury, Mr Paul Woodford, and their directors are working tirelessly to ensure that our students get the best possible opportunities to engage with the activities they love. 

Finally, as we move into the busiest phase of the term with major assessments looming large throughout the College, I would ask that you keep an eye on your sons. Heightened levels of stress are expected – in fact, research has shown even advantageous – at times of peak performance. However, it is important that this stress does not become overwhelming and lead to other negative effects. Given the impacts of the last few days, our teachers have modified assessment deadlines to support the boys. Wellbeing staff are talking with them about being prepared for the forthcoming assessments but also about how to deal with the anxiety that often accompanies this period. I would urge all families to discuss these assessments to ensure that your son is ready and, more importantly, is in a positive space regarding these activities.

Yours faithfully, 

Mr Andre Casson
HEADMASTER

Open Day Rescheduled to Term 2 - Sunday, 18 May

As you would already be aware, due to Tropical Cyclone Alfred, Open Day has been rescheduled to Term 2. It will now be held on Sunday, 18 May from 9am - 1pm.

We greatly appreciate every family's support of Open Day. With the change in date, we will be contacting all students and Parent Support Groups again with volunteer sign-up forms. We would greatly appreciate the support from every family.

Any students who volunteer on the day will be provided a free lunch, served in the Boarding House Dining Room. 

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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.

From the Chaplain

Thanking the 'Behind-the-Scenes' People

We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.

• 1 Thessalonians 1:2

One thing we should never do is take people for granted. It’s a very entitled way to live if we do. In the fallout from Tropical Cyclone Alfred, a lot of people have done a lot of things so that we can all go back to our ‘normal’ way of life again.

I, for one, am grateful for the Energex workers who have worked tirelessly to restore power to homes, businesses, hospitals, and schools in South East Queensland. So, I want to say thanks to them.

I am also grateful for the Brisbane City Council clean-up crews that will go around and clear the debris left on our roads and in our parks. Without them, we would be at a standstill for even longer. So, again, thanks.

I am grateful for the people like our BBC Facilities team who worked untiringly to look after our campus and get it back in order as quickly as possible. Even though we are back, they are now going into restoration mode to sort out all the new problems caused by the weather. Once more, a big thank you.

I am grateful for State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers, police, paramedics, doctors, and other first responders who rescued people from flooded creeks or treated anyone injured. We can’t say how grateful we are.

I could go on, but I am sure you get the picture I am painting.

Please, don’t just go back into ‘normal’ mode now that the crisis has passed. Use your words, spoken or written, to let someone know how much you appreciate what they have done.

We should always thank the ‘behind-the-scenes’ people. And it doesn’t cost us anything but time to ask God to give them strength and keep them safe. They don’t often look for recognition, but some kindness from us will encourage them. We, as a society, are better off because of them.

Mr Stephen Ward
COLLEGE CHAPLAIN

From the Head of Junior School

Supporting One Another Through Challenges

In the Junior School, we often speak about the importance of community and how we support one another, face challenges, and celebrate together. This commitment was put to the test recently when Tropical Cyclone Alfred impacted the College and the wider community. The response from boys, parents, and staff truly embodied the strength of our shared values.

From the moment we became aware of the cyclone’s impact, our priority was ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the boys. Teachers and support staff quickly put plans in place to provide stability and reassurance, whether it was checking in on families, offering pastoral care, or preparing to adapt learning experiences to accommodate disruptions.

Families within our community extended their hands to others, offering hot showers, meals, and assistance in any way they could. This generosity reinforced the values we instil in the boys: kindness, service, and an understanding of the power of community.

While Tropical Cyclone Alfred presented challenges, it also offered valuable lessons in resilience and connection. The boys saw firsthand the power of working together and the difference that small acts of kindness can make. These experiences will help them understand the importance of community and looking out for others.

As we reflect on the last week, it is clear that the Junior School is more than just a place of learning. It is a community in the truest sense of the word. The flexibility and resilience we have shown during this time are a testament to the values we uphold and the connections we share.

Thank you to every gentleman, parent, and staff member who played a part in supporting the College and each other over the last week. 

Mrs Summa Todd
HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL

Co-Curricular | Sport & Competitive Activities

GPS Swimming Championships

Today’s GPS Swimming competition saw significant successes for the boys in the Green, White, and Black. At the time of writing, BBC had put in an incredible team effort to place an amazing fourth in the Junior Swimming Carnival, with the Senior Championship still underway. It is already clear that the boys have made some remarkable accomplishments.

The Junior Swim Team achievements include:

• U12 4x50 freestyle relay champions | Edward Sherlock, Wilbur Hansen, Michael Galloway, and Timmy Morgan
• U11 4x50 freestyle relay second place | Kyne Wei, Peter Zsitvai, James Symonds, and Oscar Irwin
• 63% of Junior School Swimmers achieved individual personal bests
• 5 team relay personal bests
• 11 individual relay personal bests
• An amazing fourth place overall

Co-curricular School Team Photography Term 1

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.

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

Saturday, 22 March | Wyaralong Dam | GPS Rowing Head of the River

If you'd like more information on the Triage Clinic, please contact Mr Mitchell Birch, Senior Strength and Conditioning Coach and Rehabilitation Coordinator.

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 7 of the GPS competition against The Southport School.

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

Co-Curricular | Culture and Enrichment

Twilight Concert | Thursday, 20 March

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

The Brisbane Boys' College Twilight Concert has a new date!  On Thursday, 20 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.

Koala Club x Clean Up Australia Day and World Wildlife Day

A group of BBC boys, led by senior Koala Club students in collaboration with the Junior School Koala Club, participated in a general cleanup of the creek for Clean Up Australia Day (March 2) and World Wildlife Day (March 3).

Students collected a large amount of waste, helping to improve the local environment and protect wildlife. After the cleanup, they held a discussion on the importance of recycling and litter management. The event not only made an immediate impact but also sparked ideas for long-term sustainability efforts within the school.

If your son would like to get involved in the Koala Club, please contact Mrs Fiona Cowan at bbcsportsandactivities@bbc.qld.edu.au

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

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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