College News 2025 - Term 2 Week 5

From the Headmaster

Dear BBC Families,

In the past, I have shared with our community that, in my opinion, I have the best job in the world. I am not being glib or trite when I make this statement. It is something that I believe in my core. To be the Headmaster of a school with the prestige and reputation of Brisbane Boys’ College is an honour and a privilege. My challenge has been to find the best way to articulate this immense opportunity to someone who does not sit in my chair. I must admit I had begun to feel somewhat frustrated by my insufficient attempts to fully convey what it is to be the Headmaster of this great school, but last weekend, I found a helpful aid: the BBC Open Day!

Several times each day, I am struck with wonder and awe by the magnificence that occurs at our school.

• The brilliance I witness in our classrooms through the interactions between our passionate staff and wonderful students.
• The brotherhood that exists between both current and Old Boys, which is forged through the aspiration of producing Gentlemen of Honour.
• The excellence that exists in a myriad of cultural spaces where our young men create outcomes of beauty and grandeur.
• The competitive fire that exists in every sporting battle that involves a boy of the College as they compete for the Green, White, and Black, no matter their sphere of endeavour.
• The focus on wellbeing, which seeks to ensure each member of our family feels safe and connected within our school.

Seeing the spectacular experience of a BBC education coalesce in three short hours during our Open Day is something I am enormously proud of. It was a chance for anyone, both within and outside our family, to experience the brilliance that I encounter every day.  

Of course, events like Open Day do not occur without the passion and drive of so many people. I wish to express my gratitude to all who were able to share our amazing BBC story. Thank you to the BBC staff, who expressed their knowledge and enthusiasm to all who visited our campus; to our amazing BBC parents, who so beautifully articulated their BBC adventure to our guests; to the brilliant Old Collegians, who personified the benefits of a BBC education with links far beyond their time at the College; and, most importantly, to our current boys, whose confidence, maturity, and care are our greatest asset and advertisement.

Why do I so readily claim that I have the best job in the world? BBC Open Day – the personification of our ambition for an education in the Brisbane Boys’ College tradition.

Yours faithfully, 

Mr Andre Casson 

HEADMASTER 

From the Deputy Headmaster

With the rapid rise and constant evolution of social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook, our students are more connected than ever before. In line with Australia’s evolving legal framework, the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 introduces a mandatory minimum age of sixteen for accounts on certain social media platforms, effective December 2025. This legislation aims to enhance online safety for young Australians during critical developmental stages.

BBC educates students on our expectations through Mentor Group discussions combined with our ongoing work with the Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum from Prep to Year 12. We also work to provide parents with shared resources and analysis from cyber safety experts. One highly recommended source of information for parents is Common Sense Media.

As a school, we strongly encourage you to check your son’s social media accounts and reiterate his responsibility of staying safe and sensible when online. When doing this, we also encourage you to check the security settings of each social media app, as they are generally very broad and allow users to be identified and tracked by others, including some who may not be the person they say they are.

Based on anecdotal evidence from teachers and professional recommendations from external experts such as Susan McLean, who will be speaking at BBC on 17 July, we believe very strongly that the minimum age should be adhered to by all children. Relationships with peers, including close friends, are impacted at some stage, and we believe that the increased social maturity displayed at older ages will help boys make better choices, especially when social media is used under adult supervision.

Lastly, other great resources for student wellbeing and supporting families are available through SchoolTV, an online platform offering expert advice and practical strategies on a range of topics relevant to raising young people today. Of particular value is the Cyber Safety series, which addresses critical issues such as screen time, social media, online predators, and digital reputation. These resources are designed to empower parents with up-to-date information and guidance. We invite you to access School TV via the tile on Highlands.

If you wish to speak with someone, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s Mentor Teacher, Head of Year, or Head of House for further information and support.

Mr Scott Murphy

DEPUTY HEADMASTER

From the Head of Secondary School

Subject selection is a crucial step in every student’s educational journey, and as students enter Years 10 and 11, it shapes their academic experience. Thinking about future pathways – university, vocational training, or direct entry into the workforce – is crucial in making informed choices about which subjects to choose. Students should be focusing on exploring their interests, developing their strengths, and staying engaged in their learning. We encourage families to have open conversations, seek advice from teachers and career advisors, and consider current passions and long-term goals when making these decisions.

We are excited to offer students in Years 9 and 10 and their parents the opportunity to engage directly with the teaching staff and other special guests at our subject selection event this year.

On 9 June, all Years 9 and 10 students will hear from academic staff about how to make informed decisions, engage in activities that explore choices, and speak directly with key staff to learn more about each subject. From 3:30pm until 5:00pm, parents and students will be able to wander through the displays and talk with staff about what makes their subject a great choice for them moving forward. The afternoon will conclude with a presentation to parents from key academic staff, such as the Head of Secondary, Assistant Head of Secondary – Teaching and Learning, and the Careers Counsellor, who will discuss the SET plan process, the ATAR system, and the pathways that are available at Brisbane Boys’ College. This will set students up with the relevant information they need to make informed choices for subject selection, which will open shortly after, and SET plan interviews in early Term 3.

Ms Amelia Apogremiotis 

HEAD OF SECONDARY SCHOOL 

From the Head of Junior School

Over the past few weeks, the Junior School has been buzzing with events, and at the heart of it all has been the incredible support of our Junior School parents. We would like to take this opportunity to extend our heartfelt thanks for your generosity, time, and involvement in activities.

Our Open Day on Sunday was a celebration of what makes our College so special. The presence of our parent community helped create a welcoming and vibrant atmosphere for prospective families. Your enthusiasm was felt by all and played an important role in helping new families see the strong sense of community that defines BBC.

A special thank you also goes to those who supported the Junior School Support Group’s Second Hand Uniform Stall last week. Initiatives like these do so well because of the dedication and organisation of our parent volunteers. Thanks to your efforts, many pre-loved uniforms have found new homes, supporting sustainability while helping boys have the uniform items they need.

And, of course, the Junior School Mother’s Day Stall was another wonderful example of the strength of our parent community. The joy on the boys’ faces as they carefully selected gifts and the delight these gifts brought home are a testament to the care, creativity, and thoughtfulness of the volunteers who made it all happen.

These events are more than just moments on our Junior School calendar. They are a reflection of the connection that exists between home and school. When families and College staff work in partnership, it nurtures a strong, supportive environment where boys can flourish. Research consistently shows that when parents are actively engaged in school life, students experience greater wellbeing, stronger academic outcomes, and a deeper sense of connection and confidence.

We are incredibly grateful to our committed and generous Junior School community. Your contributions – big and small – help shape the culture and character of our College.

Mrs Summa Todd

HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL

From the Chaplain

Listening for God’s Voice

For our Boarders’ Chapel last Sunday night, we continued with our theme for the year of “With God, all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

We began with an activity where the boys squatted for 60 seconds to introduce the idea that we all have ups and downs in our lives. Congratulations to Oliver of Year 10, who won with 52 squats!

This led to a conversation about the dreadful news of the death of an ex-AFL player last week, which led to a discussion about how we all go through good and bad times in our lives.

I used an illustration of Elijah in the Bible, who had an extremely successful outcome and spiritual high moment shortly before he had an extremely low point where he felt he couldn’t go on. Elijah then waited in a cave on a mountain to hear God’s voice.

Outside, he heard a roaring wind, but no God. Then a raging fire, again no God. Next came an earthquake shaking the very mountain itself, but still no God. Then, finally, a zephyr, the lightest of breezes, came past, and God spoke to him.

Sometimes, people look for God to speak in a big voice, and sometimes he does that. Other times, he just uses a small voice. On this occasion, this is just what Elijah needed – and he listened to God. And then he acted on what God had to say, and it helped him through.

I spoke with the boys about how God can speak to us through the words in his Bible, the Holy Spirit speaking to our hearts and minds, godly people, a ChEd class, or something in a Chapel or Church Service. We just have to take the time out to listen.

Then, if we are in one of our ‘down’ times, we can hear what he has to say and know that he loves and cares for us – we don’t ever have to face anything alone.

Mr Stephen Ward

COLLEGE CHAPLAIN

Co-Curricular | Sports and Competitive Activities

Gymnastics

This month, College Gymnastics has been hosting the Foundation Cup. The tournament has been an immediate success, and it’s been great to see athletes having fun and cheering each other on. BBC had a great turnout.

The College saw fantastic success with Round 1 on Friday, 2 May, coming second place out of six, a placement the boys maintained in Round 2 on Friday, 9 May.

We wish all our student-athletes the best of luck for the finale of the Foundation Cup on 7 June. We also want to acknowledge the BBC athletes who will be competing in the State Championships this weekend. There’s no doubt that every boy will do themselves and the College proud.

A final thank you to the O’Donnell and Stanley families for helping with the canteen and set-up at both rounds of the Foundation Cup. Their support is hugely appreciated.

Mr Paul Woodford

HEAD OF CO-CURRICULAR – SPORTS AND COMPETITIVE ACTIVITIES  

Co-Curricular | Culture and Enrichment

Cadets

Have you heard that BBC is looking to restart its historic Cadets program? We have everything in place ready but need one more person to join the staffing team. We're seeking an Old Boy, parent, or other community member who would love this opportunity to work with BBC's outstanding staff and students. If you are interested or would like more information, please email kate.albury@bbc.qld.edu.au

Senior Production - Twelfth Night

Welcome to the 2025 production of Twelfth Night! This year we've joined forces with Stuartholme School, St Aidan's Anglican Girls' School, and one incredibly talented student from Brisbane State High School. With a cast of nearly 40, this is our biggest post-COVID production yet.

Tickets are now available via https://bit.ly/BBC-Twelfth-Night. FREE for all Brisbane students and $20 for adults.

Performance Music

Ensemble Program (AHEP)

Lachy Brown (French Horn), Hugh Kim (Violin), and Jasper Lau (Oboe) have been invited to attend the Australian Honours Ensemble Program. The performance workshop and concert will take place in October as part of the Honours Program run through the Queensland Conservatorium at Griffith University. These boys were selected following a video audition, competing against 695 other students from around the country. Congratulations to them for this wonderful achievement.

Ballet International Gala

Tobi Clark (Vice-Captain of Music) has been invited to join the concert tour of the Ballet International Gala (BIG) as a musician throughout August.

BIG is a Brisbane-based ballet production company that brings world-renowned ballet dancers to Australia. Tobi will be part of the two Brisbane shows at QPAC. He has previously performed the piano with BIG in other cities but his shows on 6 and 7 August will mark the first time he has performed with them in Brisbane. We wish him all the best for the upcoming BIG concert tour.

International Success

Shumo Grygoruk has been invited to perform at the Mega Booming Concert in Huế, Vietnam, in July, a hugely popular event in Vietnam. Shumo will have the opportunity to perform with Vietnamese artists as well as K-pop and J-pop performers. He will perform an original song and will then join one of the Vietnamese bands, playing lead guitar.

Shumo has also recently been selected to audition for the final round of a major record label deal led by Grammy-nominated songwriter Freddy Wexler (who has written songs for Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, BLACKPINK, the Jonas Brothers, Billy Joel, and more) in partnership with Republic Records. This is a huge moment for Shumo and we wish him all the best.

AMEB Exam Results

Congratulations to the following students for their recent Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) exam results.

• Samuel Liu – Grade 2 Trumpet – Honours (A)
• Jasper Lau – Grade 6 Oboe – Distinction (A+)
• Brighton Xu – Grade 4 Rockschool – Merit
• Leo Kleibacker – Grade 3 Rockschool – Merit

Eisteddfod Performance

Congratulations to Min Kim (Violin) for his recent performance at the Ipswich Junior Eisteddfod. Min was awarded a Very Highly Commended.

Brisbane Boys’ College Solo Competitions 2025

We held our annual Solo Competitions on Tuesday, 6 May and 56 soloists entered the competition.

The categories are based on exam grading, allowing students to perform their solo in a group of students of a similar standard. These performances were adjudicated by the teaching staff of the BBC Music Department. The three levels are Green (competent and promising level of performance), White (commendable level of performance), and Black (outstanding level of performance).

Students who were awarded the Black level award are invited to compete in the Middle School Solo Championship and Senior School Solo Championship. The Championship event will take place on Tuesday, 3 June (6:00pm – Earle Larmar).

We congratulate all students on their performances. Thank you to our Associated Artists for accompanying our soloists – Mr Mitchell Leigh and Mr Brendan Murtagh. Thank you to Mr Stuart Bent for his work organising this event.

For the full list of results view the pdf, below.

Pipe Band

The BBC Pipe Band had a highly successful and rewarding weekend at the St Andrew’s Pipe Band Competition, delivering a string of outstanding performances across multiple grades. Despite the high level of competition, all bands rose to the occasion with confidence and professionalism. The commitment shown by the players and tutors alike was evident in every performance, and the results speak volumes about the hard work and dedication behind the scenes.

There were two particularly noteworthy highlights on the day:

• BBC Number 2 Band delivered a march set that was described as the most controlled and cohesive the band has produced in a long time. Their focus and musical unity stood out in the contest arena, earning well-deserved praise.
• BBC Number 3 Band, the youngest of the competing groups, impressed everyone with two exceptionally well-executed runs. Their level of control and performance quality was described as ‘truly unreal’ for such a young ensemble – a huge achievement for all involved.

For the full results please view the pdf, below.

ISCF

Every year, the Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal helps provide crucial support to Australians doing it tough, offering shelter to the homeless, food for the hungry, and hope to the vulnerable.

As a school community, we have the opportunity to support the Salvos and demonstrate compassion. If you would like to contribute, donations can be made online via the Salvation Army’s secure portal. Every gift helps make a real and lasting impact.

You can learn more about our College Campout for students on Highlands.

Junior School ISCF

Junior School ISCF is open to all boys in Years 3 to 6. We watch enjoyable short films and see how they relate to God and the Bible.

• Years 3 to 4 meet on Tuesdays at morning tea in 6B
• Years 5 to 6 meet on Wednesdays at morning tea in 6B
• All boys are welcome. They just need to eat their morning tea outside the classroom first.

Last week in Junior School ISCF, we finished watching The Emperor’s New Groove, and this week, we’ve kicked off a new series based around the Minion mini-movies. While the Minions are full of antics, I’ve made it clear to the boys that we are not watching them to imitate their behaviour! Instead, we’re using the mini-movies as fun starting points to explore life lessons and biblical truths.

This week, we watched the Banana mini-movie, where three Minions comically battle over a single banana. While the boys found it hilarious, they were also able to reflect on the themes of selfishness and greed and how those don’t end well. One student insightfully remarked, “If they had just shared the banana, then they would all have gotten something.”

Ms Kate Albury 

HEAD OF CO-CURRICULAR – CULTURE AND ENRICHMENT

Tuckshop News

Hello BBC Families,

I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to reach out with both positive and constructive feedback following my last newsletter update. It was lovely to have some positive messages and thanks to pass on to the team, and the constructive criticism continues to help us tighten systems and grow a product portfolio that is moving in the correct direction.

A survey will be sent to both students and parents very soon. I am working with the Marketing team to get this to you, so please keep an eye out for your opportunity to have your say.

We have swapped out two recently introduced baked items in favour of returning favourites from last year. Along with most of the team, Mrs Roslyn Ward joined us this year in the new space. From the start of this term, she has been baking up a storm with her ever-popular brownies and muesli slices.

The Waterfords sparkling flavoured water range has made a comeback and has proven a favourite in the first couple of weeks back.

For the Junior School, we have included a smaller main option and ordered new delivery bags to help combat temperature and spilling issues. 

As we continue to develop and change, your feedback is, as always, much appreciated. Please keep an eye out for the survey and help us make the Tuckshop a great space for all.

Mr Andy Bardsley

HOSPITALITY MANAGER  

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. 

Youth Entrepreneur Opportunities

At BBC, our students consistently display a dedication, drive, and work ethic that we know will change the world for the better. But they don’t have to wait until graduation to start planning how they’ll do it.

On Thursday, 29 May, the Brisbane City Council (BCC) is hosting the Youth Entrepreneurship Expo. Open to all BBC students, this event will give boys and parents alike a chance to hear from some of Brisbane’s young business leaders as they discuss their entrepreneurial pathways and the challenges they have faced and overcome.

• When: 5:30pm to 7:30pm on Thursday, 29 May
• Where: Indooroopilly Golf Club
• Price: Free

Tickets can be secured at the Eventbrite website.

Events such as these are hugely valuable opportunities for boys to hear from business leaders first-hand and begin to lay the foundations for their own journeys in the professional world.

In Week 3, Year 11 students Tai Quy Chau and Alexander Middlemis took advantage of a similar opportunity when they represented BBC at the BCC’s annual Youth Entrepreneurship Symposium, where they heard directly from a variety of inspiring business leaders. The event had a profound impact on the boys.

“Hearing from these incredible individuals has genuinely shifted the way I think about my goals and future,” Tai said afterwards. “Their stories taught us that success often comes from perseverance, innovation, and being open to learning from every experience.”

We encourage any aspiring entrepreneurs in the College to consider taking part in the Youth Entrepreneurship Expo. Who knows where it could lead?

Upcoming Events

Proudly supported by our Corporate Partners