BSB is 50 years old

On the first day back at school there was a Whole School Assembly with a giant birthday cake and a special BSB song!

The song is an adaptation of a traditional Australian song ‘We are Australian’ so the chorus and the melody were already prepared, but the verses were all written by Upper Primary children.

They called the song ‘We are One’ and it’s very catchy indeed!

Chorus: We are one, But we are many, And from all the lands on earth we come. We share a dream, And sing with one voice, I am, you are BSB as one, I am, you are BSB as one.

Verse We’re Curious and confident, resilient every day, We care for one another and respect each other’s ways, Courageously we take our path With all our hearts and minds, At BSB we’re happy and we’re very proud to say.

Verse From all the world’s wide continents, we try our best to learn, Our school is full of hopes and dreams we share and take our turn, Some travel from so far away and some from just next door, We stand together all as one so who could ask for more.

Verse We’re celebrating 50 years, and we’re still moving on, Our predecessors all look in to see what’s going on, Our learning and our friendships they will last for ever more, At BSB we’re stronger than we’ve ever been before.

BSB turned 50 in 2020. The build-up started long before that. The 50th Anniversary Committee starting planning a year earlier. Celebrations started in the last part of 2019. We posted on social media old black and white photographs from the 1970’s, and snippets of news from eras gone by, like the changes in logos or buildings being completed. The response to our birthday received from alumni around the world was rather inspiring…

“Happy birthday BSB, a fantastic school 71-75 Happy Birthday fantastic School!” “Happy birthday BSB. Very happy memories of my time there 1974-1978”

“Happy Birthday BSB my two children attended between 2013-2017! Lovely school with very dedicated staff! “

“Happy Birthday BSB Of all the schools I attended during my childhood you gave me the best memories and I thank you.” “How lucky I was to go a school like BSB. Congratulations to all who made BSB what it is was and is. And thank you.”

“Happy Birthday...great memories of a great school when I was there in the early 70s!”

“Happy birthday BSB! My children loved going to school there and I enjoyed working there. Have fun celebrating”

“Happy Birthday! Wonderful school! I was so happy there xx”

Tapestry is sent to press in February so celebratory photos of our 50 th birthday will be posted online throughout the year, including an event in February at the Museum of Central Africa to thank all our wonderful staff who make BSB so successful, a Memorabilia Exhibition including a classroom of the 1970’s in March open to everyone, a 1970’s dress-up day, a themed COBIS games for our students, and a music festival.

In June there are more parties and something for everyone – the FoBSB Summer Ball in May, the Alumni Reunion in June and of course a very special Music Concert and Awards evening.

Later in the year we will hold a 50 th celebratory event at the Ambassador’s Residence and and a very special ‘Book Week extraordinaire’, centered around epic journeys!