College News 2025 - Term 2 Week 3

From the Headmaster

Dear BBC Families, 

Being the Headmaster of Brisbane Boys’ College affords me limitless opportunities to witness our young Gentlemen of Honour achieve remarkable accomplishments. Unfortunately, there are times when the boys may not quite meet the level of expectation to which we aspire. These occasional missteps are not just present in my vocation as a teacher but extend to my role as a father as well. I was ruminating on these truths with one of my brothers, who is involved in the science of wellbeing and who worked in a boys’ school in Perth, over the weekend. I found this dialogue refreshing and thought-provoking, both as an educator and as a dad.     

The teenage years can be a very interesting time in any household. As an adolescent, you go through many physical, mental, emotional, and social changes. It is also time for significant growth and development inside the teenage brain. Dan Siegel, an award-winning author, educator, and child psychiatrist, has been researching the teenage brain and working to help parents understand adolescence and all its mysteries.  

Here’s Siegel on some of the brain science behind teenage angst: 

Adolescence is turbulent – but teens aren’t just being ‘crazy’ or ‘immature.’ Not just a phase that needs to be grown out of, adolescence is a period of growth characterised by ‘emotional intensity, social engagement, and creativity.’ So, it’s not about surviving teenage-hood, but understanding and learning from these new desires and drives in ways that enable teens to thrive. 

The full-bodied embrace of a community in the privileged position to support, share, enthuse, acknowledge, hold accountable, challenge, and motivate the great number of teenagers dependent on their understanding is crucial to the development of young people. Once we have a foundational grasp of their characteristics, values, communication styles, and social attitudes, we will be well-equipped to effectively impact this enormous and valuable generation in an extremely positive way. 

As I have shared before, when our community, parents, and school work collaboratively to assist our charges as they navigate the myriad of challenges associated with their journey to adulthood, we are far more likely to achieve a positive outcome. Through open dialogue, mutual respect, and passionate engagement, we have the opportunity to shape the futures of the young men in our care. While we may confront challenges and setbacks, it is not the falling that defines us but what we do when we stumble that counts. As parents and teachers, we have the chance to touch the future through our children/students – what a magnificent gift. 

Yours faithfully, 

Mr Andre Casson 

HEADMASTER 

From the Head of Secondary School

Students are settling back into routines after numerous public holidays and setting their sights on what lies ahead for Term 2. As the cooler weather approaches, we will be moving to winter uniforms starting next week. Boys in the Secondary School must wear their blazers while travelling to and from school, attending assemblies, and spectating at Firsts fixtures on weekends. If your son forgets his blazer or it is at the College Shop for embroidery, he should follow the process of obtaining a Uniform Pass from his Mentor or Head of Year. I am also looking forward to seeing the boys smartly dressed in their blazers on Open Day, Sunday, 18 May.  

Regular attendance at school is important for continuity of learning and achieving the best possible academic outcomes. Whilst we understand that appointments with specialists are often hard to come by and don’t provide a lot of flexibility for families when it comes to scheduling, we strongly encourage parents to make appointments outside school hours where possible to ensure that academic programs are not disrupted. If your son arrives at school after the start of the day, please remind them to sign in at Student Services. If he needs to leave school during the day, please ask him to sign out at Student Services. This is in addition to the Parent Lounge notification you place to grant him permission to leave. Your support in reminding your son to sign in and out of Student Services is greatly appreciated.  

Ms Amelia Apogremiotis 

HEAD OF SECONDARY SCHOOL 

Junior School Interhouse Writing Competition

The excitement (and slight confusion!) surrounding this year’s Interhouse Writing Competition is well and truly underway. Over the weekend, a mysterious prompt appeared outside the Junior School Office — complete with a barrel, some interesting-looking chemicals, and a rather suspicious-looking spider!  

In fact, the scene attracted the attention of none other than the Headmaster himself, Mr Andre Casson, who came down to inspect the setup. Mr Casson was more than a little baffled. As he put it, “I walked through the Junior School on Saturday while I was here watching the soccer and tennis. Nothing was there then, so something must have gone wrong in the last 48 hours!”  

Despite the confusion, Mr Casson was reassured to see the area safely quarantined to keep our boys and staff safe. We even called a member of our maintenance staff, Mr Ed Graham, to check out the spider situation. Let’s just say Mr Graham needed a strong cup of tea and a biscuit afterwards. Between us — I’m starting to feel a little worried too!  

In addition, we employed the expert knowledge of Robert Irwin, who assured us that the spiders were safe and weren’t venomous. However, when we returned the next day, we got chills: they were multiplying. An intrigued Year 1 boy was certain that it was one of the small spiders he had seen that had grown. He also noted that the spider was moving as it was getting closer to the ground.  

Luckily, when we returned to school this week, they had magically disappeared as quickly as they had arrived.   

All part of the adventure!  

We can’t wait to see how the boys are inspired by this curious beginning to their Writing Competition entries. We encourage you to have a chat with your sons — you might be surprised by the creative ideas they’ve come up with after seeing the scene. 

Ms Jennifer Warwick 

DEPUTY HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL (TEACHING & LEARNING) 

BBC Feedback and Complaints Policy

At BBC, we value the feedback of parents, families, and the broader community. Our efforts to ensure that every boy has the opportunity to thrive are at their best when we work in close collaboration with families, and we are eager to maintain a constructive dialogue with all stakeholders. 

The BBC website features an online feedback form where you can let us know what we’re doing right and where we can improve. 

We also provide detailed information on our Complaints Policy and Procedures that is accessible to all community members. 

Co-Curricular | Culture and Enrichment

Performance Music  

Over three days, BBC musicians, including the Pipe Band, choirs, buglers, and pipers, actively participated in College and community Anzac services, reinforcing BBC’s commitment to honouring the Anzac spirit and contributing to the community. Thank you to all students and staff who made themselves available and contributed on behalf of BBC.

Wednesday, 23 April

• Brisbane City Children’s Anzac Service in Anzac Square: BBC Collegians   

Thursday, 24 April  

• BBC Service: Pipe Band 1, Collegians, and Symphonic Band   

• Stuartholme School Anzac Service: Year 12 piper Dylan Steinkohl-Andrade  

Friday, 25 April   

• Dawn Service – Anzac Square: Collegians  

• Indooroopilly Golf Club Anzac Service and the Wests Bulldogs rugby match against Souths: Year 10 student Jonah Lee, playing the Last Post and The Rouse   

• Graceville Memorial Park Anzac Day Parade: Pipe Bands 1 and 2, with Year 12 student Nicholas Shelburn playing the lament  

• Indooroopilly Anzac Service: Year 12 piper Dylan Steinkohl-Andrade playing the lament  

• Brisbane City Anzac Parade: Pipe Bands 1 and 2   

College Campout  

BBC has a long-standing tradition of supporting the Salvation Army by raising funds for the annual Red Shield Appeal. 

This term, on 24 May, we will hold our College Campout to support the Red Shield Appeal. This student-led initiative has grown in popularity over the past few years. Each participating student can choose their level of challenge – whether it’s sleeping on the back deck, camping in a tent in the backyard, or sleeping under the stars.  

The event aims to raise both funds for the vital work of the Salvos and awareness of the realities faced by those experiencing homelessness.  

More information about the College Campout will be shared later in the term.  

Ms Kate Albury 

HEAD OF CO-CURRICULAR – CULTURE AND ENRICHMENT 

Expression of Interest: Join the Australian Army Cadets as Army Cadet Staff (ACS)

Expression of Interest: Join the Australian Army Cadets as Army Cadet Staff (ACS)  

We are excited to announce the re-establishment of a school-based Australian Army Cadet Unit (Brisbane City Unit 111) at Brisbane Boys’ College, set to commence in Semester 2, 2025.   

This unit will be open to students aged 13 and above from BBC and surrounding schools (including our sister schools). Weekly parades will be held on Monday afternoons from 4:30pm to 7:30pm.  

As part of this initiative, we are seeking expressions of interest from individuals within the BBC community who are passionate about youth development and leadership to join the unit as Army Cadet Staff (ACS).  

The Australian Army Cadets (AAC) is a youth development program that builds leadership, resilience, confidence, and teamwork. As an ACS member, you will play a vital role in guiding and mentoring cadets while also developing your own leadership skills through ongoing training and support provided by the AAC.  

By joining as ACS, you will:  

• Contribute to the growth and leadership development of the cadets  

• Receive training from the AAC tailored to your level of involvement  

Training Pathways Include:  

• Grade 1: Plan and lead routine parade activities.  

• Grade 2: Conduct non-routine and overnight activities.  

• Grade 3 Command Course: Prepare for leadership of a cadet unit.  

• Specialist Courses: Train for roles in larger or specialised units.  

If you are interested in making a meaningful difference and being part of this exciting opportunity, please send your expression of interest to Human Resources at recruitment@bbc.qld.edu.au by Friday, 23 May 2025.  

You can learn more about the Australian Army Cadets by visiting their website. 

For further information, you may also contact Ms Kate Albury, Head of Co-Curricular – Culture and Enrichment, at kate.albury@bbc.qld.edu.au  

How to Order School Photos

BBC has partnered with AdvancedLife to provide school photos for 2025. The main days for photography are approaching in June. Organisational details will be provided closer to the date; however, you can place orders for Class Group, Year Cohort, Sibling, and Portrait images now.  

Please note that this does not apply to co-curricular team photos, which will become available to order in stages throughout the year. Families will be alerted when these photos become purchasable. 

When is the main photo day?  

• Secondary School – Thursday, 5 June  

• Junior School – Wednesday, 11 June  

How do I order?  

You can order online by visiting AdvancedLife’s website and entering the code 7BD RDE 3JM into the ‘Order and download your photos’ field.  

If you do not wish to order online, please contact BBC Communications, at communications@bbc.qld.edu.au to make alternative arrangements.   

Please note that AdvancedLife does not accept credit card or bank details provided over the phone.  

Is there anything else I should know?  

• Sibling Photos – Sibling photographs will only be taken if a family has pre-ordered one at least 24 hours prior to photo day. Sibling photographs only apply to children enrolled at BBC.  

• Late fees – A late fee will be applied to each package purchased after photo day due to the additional cost of producing these packages separately. 

2025 ISCF Camp

What happens when 80 people, including current and past students, staff, and parents, combine over the long weekend for an Inter-School Christian Fellowship (ISCF) camp? So much more than you can imagine! 

Donations of awesome fresh fruit from the Manu family, as well as many delicious cakes, slices, and biscuits from other families, gave us plenty to eat for morning tea. The fantastic barbecue cooked by the wonderful Phillpotts and my wife, Roslyn, meant no one went home hungry.  

Goal number one – well-fed people. Check.  

Activities over the weekend included team games, such as kicking a shoe into a hula hoop on the ground, knocking over paper cups with a table tennis ball, or trying to move a biscuit from your forehead to your mouth without using your hands. This raised everyone’s competitive juices. A walk into the city to enjoy ten-pin bowling or down to South Bank enabled us to revel in the beautiful sunny day that Brisbane put on for us. A Monday morning round robin created a lot of laughs with activities such as sock hockey, badminton, and ultimate frisbee.  

Goal two – lots of fun. Check. 

Student-led bands began each of our learning sessions about God. Students, Old Boys and Girls, and staff joined in the worship of our Lord Jesus Christ together. Our theme for the weekend was ‘the heart’, and this was expounded upon by our four guest speakers. BBC Old Boy, Valedictorian, and former Rudd House Prefect and ISCF Captain Mr Jacob Job (OC 2023) spoke first about having an ‘open heart’ towards Jesus Christ. In the next session, Old Boy and former College and ISCF Captain Mr Alister Gomersall (OC 2020) spoke about God giving us a ‘new heart’ – one that follows him willingly. Our third speaker, Somerville House Old Girl Ms Rebekah Chandler (and sister to Caspian Gresham in Year 11), shared that we can ‘take heart’ and have courage in our tough times because God is with us. To wrap up our final session, Clayfield College Senior Chaplain Reverend Paul Yarrow brought these ideas together and offered students the opportunity to respond to God – to listen to what he was saying to their hearts.  

After each session, we broke into small year-level groups to discuss the Christian ideas presented in-depth. They were a great time of open sharing and questioning by the students as they developed their thinking around their own faith journey.  

Goal three – the opportunity to respond to God. Check. 

All this led to a great sense of community among the students. This occurred as a larger group across all the PMSA schools, as well as within our individual ones. 

Jesus told us to love God and to love one another. The 2025 ISCF camp has helped us to do just that. 

Mr Stephen Ward 

COLLEGE CHAPLAIN 

Sign Up for ICAS Now

In addition to classroom learning, students are encouraged to extend themselves through a range of optional academic competitions. These opportunities offer a platform to challenge their thinking, apply their knowledge in new ways, and celebrate academic curiosity beyond the curriculum. 

Brisbane Boys’ College is again offering students from Years 3 to 12 the opportunity to participate in the ICAS (International Competitions and Assessments for Schools) assessments later this year.  

If you are interested in your son completing an ICAS assessment, you can learn more on the ICAS website. 

How to register your son to participate in ICAS   

If you wish for your child to participate in ICAS this year, please:   

1. Read about ICAS subjects and prices  

1. Read the terms and conditions  

1. Go to the Parent Portal to purchase tests 

1. Enter BBC’s access code – GDY953 

1. Enter your child’s details, select the tests you would like to purchase, and then proceed to payment.  
    

Please note that the ICAS tests shown for selection are at BBC’s discretion.   

After payment is made via the Parent Payment System, you will receive an order confirmation email. Please keep this for your records.   

Brisbane Boys’ College students are eligible to sit the following subject areas on the dates specified below. Please note these dates in your diary. 

Secondary School Students 

• ICAS Writing (Years 7 to 12) – Tuesday, 5 August – 7:00am for a 7:15am start  

• ICAS English (Years 7 to 12) – Friday, 15 August – 7:00am for a 7:15am start  

• ICAS Science (Years 7 to 12) – Wednesday, 20 August – 7:00am for a 7:15am start 

• ICAS Mathematics (Years 7 to 12) – Thursday, 28 August – 7:00am for a 7:15am start 

Junior School Students 

• ICAS Writing (Years 3 to 6) – Tuesday, 5 August – 7:15am for a 7:30am start 

• ICAS English (Years 3 to 6) – Friday, 15 August – 7:00am for a 7:15am start 

• ICAS Science (Years 3 to 6) – Wednesday, 20 August – 7:00am for a 7:15am start 

• ICAS Spelling Bee (Years 3 to 6) – Thursday, 21 August – 7:00am for a 7:15am start 

• ICAS Mathematics (Years 3 to 6) – Thursday, 28 August – 7:00am for a 7:15am start 

Please note that you must register and pay for your son to sit the test by Monday, 21 July. 

ICAS Results and Certificates  

We will notify you when your son’s ICAS results are ready. Once we have received your son’s ICAS certificate, we will send it home with him. The back of the certificate shows ICAS results and the login details, “TAP ID and Pin”, that you and your child need to enter the Results Portal. 

Privacy Collection Statement   

The following information is a privacy notification about how your child’s data is kept private and secure.   

Janison is aware of our responsibility to protect the identity of, and all information relating to, children, and students in general, from disclosure and consequently Janison does not:   

• collect any personal information or data of children other than as required for the purposes of completion of the assessment, test or exam;   

• transfer any personal information or data obtained during the delivery of assessments, tests or exams conducted in Australia to any jurisdiction outside of Australia other than with the specific consent of the person, or his or her parent or guardian;   

• transfer any personal information or data obtained during the delivery of assessments, tests or exams conducted in other international regions out of the child’s jurisdiction other than with the specific consent of the person, or his or her parent or guardian;   

• share any personal information or data relating to children or students with any third parties (other than a third party whose services are necessary for servicing our products, e.g. print/distribution companies, medal engraving, etc.) except with the specific consent of the person, or his or her parent or guardian;   

• use any personal information or data relating to children or students for marketing purposes.   

Janison may retain personal information and data relevant to a child for their future purposes or for research purposes by Janison for the duration of the school life cycle of the child. However, if you or your child at any time wish to have their personal information or data removed from our systems, they or you may opt out by simply contacting our Privacy Officer at privacy@janison.com.   

We are proud to offer ICAS and look forward to some fantastic results later in the year.  

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