Jim Gillespie and Patrick Rosato
Catholic schooling is a work of love and nowhere is the work of love and learning more evident than in the relationship between teacher and student.
Research highlights that teachers’ belief and commitments are the greatest influence on students’ achievements.
In a four-part series, we’ve taken a closer look at the teacher-student relationship and how it makes better learners and teachers. Jim Gillespie teaches Year 12 student Patrick Rosato at St Columba’s Catholic College, Springwood
Patrick says Mr Gillespie is a good guy who is more than just a teacher.
‘He is hard working, he helps everyone and he’s fair, honest and helpful,’ says Patrick. ‘Mr Gillespie is really committed to his students as individuals and I respect him because he treats me with respect.’
‘He has really made a difference to my learning and he set up extra classes to help students who want to do more study. He tests us in class to make sure we know what we have to know,’ said Patrick.
Patrick says Mr Gillespie loves his subject and this comes across in his teaching. ‘He expects everyone to work as hard as they can and get the best results they can and he makes the subject accessible and creates a want for learning,’ said Patrick.
Jim Gillespie says he sees the good in all kids and wants to see them flourish.
‘In Pat’s case, I have learned that adversity can make people even stronger,’ said Jim. ‘Even through the hardship of losing his home in the bushfires, Pat’s attitude to his learning has not changed. He is respectful, always cheerful and dedicated to his studies.’
‘I have seen Pat grow from a sound student in Years 7 to 10 to now as a Year 12 student where he works to achieve the best result,’ said Jim. ‘He understands what hard work is and the effort needed to achieve excellent results.’
Jim says he is motivated by seeing students achieve at a high level and the enthusiasm that this instills in them.
‘I have a great love of working with young people and seeing the rapport that is built between teacher and student. I think I have a never-give-up attitude.’
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
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16 Sep 2026
From Facebook
At College Assembly this morning we celebrated many things, including the fantastic success of the College Show Team, who cleaned up at the Penrith Show recently. In events ranging from parading, judging and railing to events for animals, our College was represented. Too many place getters to name here, but congratulations to every single student who stepped up and got involved! Our College Champions were: 🥇Olivia P Champion Expert Parader 🥇Champion school calf railing competition. 🥇Champion Jnr heifer fitting comp summah and Eva yr 8 🥇Champion fleece judging Evy yr 10 🥇Champion team cattle judging Anastasia and Anika yr12 🥇Champion sheep judging Anastasia yr 12 A special shout out to Ms Sibbald who got the team ready and was with them for the entire duration of the Show. 🥇Champion Teacher16 Sep 2026
From Facebook
Our Agriculture students have achieved some fantastic results at the GSSCC Presentation last week, with strong performances across steer, paraders, judging and carcase competitions! Our results included: • 6th – Steer Weight Gain, gaining an impressive 1.145 kg per day over 100 days • 5th – Junior Paraders • 3rd – Senior Paraders • 6th – Beef Appraisal • 2nd – Junior Judging Team • 2nd – Senior Judging Team • 🏆 Champion All Age Team Judging • 🥇 Winner – Junior Judging Team • 3rd – Senior Judging Team • 3rd – Carcase These outstanding results saw St Columba’s named Equal Reserve Champion School for the competition, for the second year in a row! So close to taking out the top spot, and an achievement of which our students can be incredibly proud. Our Agriculture program provides students with a wonderful opportunity to work alongside industry, develop practical skills and make meaningful real-world connections in Agriculture. And there’s more exciting news! 🐓 We were also able to collect our new show birds – a beautiful trio of Light Sussex from highly regarded breeder Diamond Valley Poultry. These new additions will help strengthen our breeding program and give our students the opportunity to become even more competitive in the show ring. Congratulations to all of our students and staff involved in another fantastic showing for St Columba’s! Greater Sydney Schools Cattle Competition Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
Latest News More news
16 Sep 2026
From Facebook
At College Assembly this morning we celebrated many things, including the fantastic success of the College Show Team, who cleaned up at the Penrith Show recently. In events ranging from parading, judging and railing to events for animals, our College was represented. Too many place getters to name here, but congratulations to every single student who stepped up and got involved! Our College Champions were: 🥇Olivia P Champion Expert Parader 🥇Champion school calf railing competition. 🥇Champion Jnr heifer fitting comp summah and Eva yr 8 🥇Champion fleece judging Evy yr 10 🥇Champion team cattle judging Anastasia and Anika yr12 🥇Champion sheep judging Anastasia yr 12 A special shout out to Ms Sibbald who got the team ready and was with them for the entire duration of the Show. 🥇Champion Teacher
16 Sep 2026
From Facebook
Our Agriculture students have achieved some fantastic results at the GSSCC Presentation last week, with strong performances across steer, paraders, judging and carcase competitions! Our results included: • 6th – Steer Weight Gain, gaining an impressive 1.145 kg per day over 100 days • 5th – Junior Paraders • 3rd – Senior Paraders • 6th – Beef Appraisal • 2nd – Junior Judging Team • 2nd – Senior Judging Team • 🏆 Champion All Age Team Judging • 🥇 Winner – Junior Judging Team • 3rd – Senior Judging Team • 3rd – Carcase These outstanding results saw St Columba’s named Equal Reserve Champion School for the competition, for the second year in a row! So close to taking out the top spot, and an achievement of which our students can be incredibly proud. Our Agriculture program provides students with a wonderful opportunity to work alongside industry, develop practical skills and make meaningful real-world connections in Agriculture. And there’s more exciting news! 🐓 We were also able to collect our new show birds – a beautiful trio of Light Sussex from highly regarded breeder Diamond Valley Poultry. These new additions will help strengthen our breeding program and give our students the opportunity to become even more competitive in the show ring. Congratulations to all of our students and staff involved in another fantastic showing for St Columba’s! Greater Sydney Schools Cattle Competition Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
16 Sep 2026
From Facebook
‘For where two or three meet in my name, I am there among them.' - Matthew 18:20 College assembly in the turning circle this morning - a fantastic opportunity to come together and celebrate all that we love about St Columba’s. Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
16 Sep 2026
From Facebook
Congratulations to our Drama Stars who have received nominations in the ONSTAGE HSC Showcase! Zahara, Koby, Hakopa and Gabriel who received a group nomination for their Group Performance, 'The Mysterious Case of the Missing Mutt' and Jemima, Koby and Zahara who all received nominations for their Individual Performances. Outstanding effort from everyone! A very special congratulations also to Mrs Carmen Noonan, whose expertise, passion and dedication have supported and inspired our Drama students throughout their HSC journey. To have five students receive ONSTAGE nominations is an outstanding achievement and a wonderful reflection of Carmen’s commitment to nurturing the talent, creativity and confidence of her students. *Photos published with permission of the families. Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
14 Sep 2026
From Facebook
If you are in a position to help, the Blue Mountains Police Area Command would love your support. They are working to put together Care Packs for the Kids with Cancer Foundation and are accepting donations of items at the Springwood and Katoomba Police stations. Check out the post below for items on their list.
11 Sep 2026
From Facebook
At our recent College Assembly, the St Columba’s community came together to make an incredible contribution to Jesuit Social Services (JSS) and the Ignite Food Store at Mount Druitt. Thanks to the generosity of our students and families, we donated a whole truckload of non-perishable food items and nappies to help stock the shelves at Ignite and support individuals and families in our wider community. But the giving didn’t stop there! Funds raised through our St Columba’s Day celebrations also enabled us to make a significant monetary donation to JSS, providing further support to purchase much-needed supplies for the Ignite Food Store. We are incredibly proud of the generosity shown by our College community. It’s a wonderful example of our faith in action and of what can happen when we work together to make a difference. Thank you to everyone who donated, fundraised and helped make this possible! *AI generated image for student privacy and protection. Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
10 Sep 2026
Bishops Awards celebrate student leaders across Parramatta Diocese
The annual Bishop of Parramatta Award for Student Excellence celebrates Year 12 students who demonstrate strong values of faith, service, leadership and learning, recognising their positive impact on their schools and wider communities.
09 Sep 2026
From Facebook
A huge congratulations to Year 12 student Nishelle, who has received TWO NESA Showcase nominations for CALLBACK 2026 - for both her Major Study Performance AND her Core Performance! CALLBACK celebrates a selection of outstanding HSC Dance major works from across NSW, making this an incredible recognition of Nishelle’s talent, dedication and artistry. Behind this achievement are countless hours of hard work, commitment and determination. Nishelle, we are so incredibly proud of you and thrilled to see your passion for Dance recognised at this level. A very special congratulations also to Ms Sarah Prsic, whose expertise, encouragement and dedication have helped guide Nishelle throughout her HSC Dance journey. Two nominations. What an achievement! Congratulations, Nishelle! Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese *Published with permission from the family
04 Sep 2026
From Facebook
"Dads are most ordinary men turned by love into heroes, adventurers, storytellers, and singers of song." ~ Pam Brown It was wonderful to welcome so many Dads, Uncles and Grandfathers to the College this morning for our Father's Day breakfast. We are glad you could join us! A very happy Father's Day to all of our St Columba's community on Sunday. Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
26 Aug 2026
From Facebook
What a fantastic way to celebrate National Skills Week! Today, St Columba’s hosted our inaugural Skilled Futures Careers Expo, with 22 exhibitors joining us at the College to inspire and inform our Year 10, 11 and 12 students about the incredible range of career opportunities available to them. From construction trades and early childhood education to the Police and ADF, motor mechanics, hair and beauty, local government and so much more, there really was something for everyone! It was fantastic to see our students engaging with industry professionals, asking questions and exploring the possibilities that could shape their futures. A huge thank you to all 22 exhibitors for giving up your time, sharing your expertise and helping our students see where their skills and interests could take them. Your enthusiasm and generosity made the Expo such a success. And of course, a big thank you to our wonderful St Columba’s staff who helped organise, coordinate and support the event throughout the day. It takes a team to make an event like this happen, and we are so grateful for everyone who played a part. What a brilliant celebration of skills, careers and the many exciting futures ahead for our students! National Skills Week Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese Susan Templeman MP Prue Car MP Andrew Giles MP Trish Doyle MP
26 Aug 2026
ParraSkills Video Competition showcases ‘Life Changing’ VET
Students across Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) brought the 2026 National Skills Week theme, “Life Changing”, to life through the 2026 ParraSkills Video Competition, showcasing the skills, experiences and opportunities available through Vocational Education and Training (VET).
25 Aug 2026
From Facebook
There’s been some very cute new arrivals at the College! 🐑 Our first little lambs of the season arrived last week when a set of twins made their entrance, followed by three more new arrivals over the weekend. And the best part? We’re still expecting at least two more! While these little ones are certainly stealing the show, their arrival also marks one of the busiest and most rewarding times of the year for our Agriculture students. Caring for newborn lambs takes commitment, patience and plenty of hard work, and our students step up every year to make sure they are well cared for. It’s one of the many reasons we value Agriculture education so highly at St Columba’s. Our students aren’t just learning about agriculture in a classroom, they’re developing practical skills, responsibility and a genuine understanding of what it takes to care for animals. Many of our students also go on to pursue post-school pathways in Ag with our amazing tertiary and industry partners! For now, though, we think they’ve earned a little time for some serious lamb cuddles! #agriculture Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese Charles Sturt University University of Tasmania University of New England, AU University of Sydney NSW Agriculture Sydney Royal Easter Show