3 minute read
From the Headmaster
There are many competencies and qualities we desire in a BBC graduate. He should be a critical thinker and a problem solver; creative, communicative and collaborative. He should also be curious, willing to take initiative, persistent and adaptable. He should possess leadership qualities along with spiritual, social and cultural awareness. He should be able to love and be loved.
To be all these things, he must first be ‘Confident’.
Our most fervent wish is for our young men to be confident in heart and soul and mind – to have the confidence to face the world that exists beyond the College gates with hope, faith and enthusiasm, to lead a happy and purposeful life.
It is our collective ambition to enhance every student’s wellbeing, alongside providing best practice teaching and learning, that focuses our decision-making around providing opportunities for our boys to grow; spiritually, academically, pastorally, and in their cultural and sporting endeavours. We want to instil in our boys the confidence and capability to contribute; to make a difference to the world they are helping to create.
We made significant inroads into realising this ambition in 2019, being the foundation year of the College’s adoption of Positive Education – an evidence-based framework based on the science of positive psychology – which will underpin our new student wellbeing initiatives in 2020.
2019 was a year rich in confident and capable BBC boys achieving great success inside and outside the classroom, in their academic, sporting, cultural, leadership and Christian service endeavours.
We began our academic year celebrating our 2018 Scholars and the results of their Senior cohort, with 40.44 percent of OP-eligible students receiving an OP1 to 5, 83 percent an OP1 to 10 and 100 percent an OP1 to 15.
Highlights in the academic arena abounded, including on the international stage, where a team of Year 12 mathematicians eclipsed more than 140 other submissions from Australia alone to contest the International Maths Modelling Challenge in Hong Kong.
In Robotics, we had three teams represent Australia in the 2019 RoboCup Junior World Championships. Our Junior School also had success at the hotly contested and very challenging Queensland da Vinci Decathlon, with our Year 5 team being crowned State Champions. Just as rewarding as our boys’ individual academic achievements were the whole year level experiences that saw our boys come together as a cohort to embark on innovative curriculum projects designed to enrich, extend and excite.
In the sporting domain, GPS Premierships were won in Volleyball and Tennis (our seventh consecutive Premiership) and we were crowned GPS Cross Country Champions for the second year running.
Our music program continued to cement its place as one of the best in the country, with impressive performances across the year and the international release of BBC’s first imprint record label, Big Green Records.
The College Art Show, Brisbane theatre production, Debating and Chess achievements added to our success across our vibrant and diverse co-curricular offerings here at BBC.
Our boarders, who make the College their home-away-fromhome, enrich our community by their presence and through their contribution to the life of the College.
Outside the College gates, our Service-Learning initiatives continued to encourage students to grow their circle of concern as they shared their knowledge, time and compassion with organisations nationally and abroad. The Red Earth Indigenous Immersion was a new experience offered in 2019, providing an opportunity for students to connect with traditional owners, each other and nature, deepening their understanding of the rich culture and history of Indigenous Australians.
While reflecting upon the many achievements of 2019, it is also a time to consider our future. With dedication, purpose and perseverance, we will continue to enhance our offering and fulfil our vision of being a truly world class school.
PAUL BROWN HEADMASTER
