Jacob visited lots of sites in Japan
Jacob Peters from Year 10 at St Columba’s High School, Springwood was one of only four students selected from NSW to attend a 10-day study trip to Japan as part of the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS) funded by the Japanese government.
Participating schools were selected by the Consulate General of Japan based on having very active and successful Japanese language programs. St Columba’s has been selected to participate three times since December 2013 and eight senior students have now visited Japan.
A group of 18 students experienced the Japanese culture through home-stays, site-visits and school exchange programs. Jacob was actively involved in all the events and demonstrated his maturity, responsible attitude and passion in learning Japanese.
Japanese teacher Mrs Shizue Sato said Jacob represented the St Columba’s community and Australia extremely well. ‘We are very proud of his achievement. Congratulations Jacob!’
Jacob says the trip was an experience he will never forget.
‘This trip provided me with very unique experiences that have allowed me to gain a better insight into Japanese lifestyle and culture,’ he said. ‘It has also allowed me to experience personal growth both in my understanding of other cultures and Japanese language skills.’
‘The trip was fantastic and I was struck by the great kindness and generosity shown to all of us from the Japanese people,’ said Jacob. ‘During the trip I travelled to Tokyo and Toyama - two places that are unique in their own way.’
‘Toyama is one of my favorite places in Japan so far as the people were kind, caring and friendly, which made me feel welcome in their community,’ said Jacob. ‘I hope to return to that prefecture one day and experience its beauty once again.’
Throughout the JENESYS program I got to share my knowledge of the Japanese language,’ said Jacob. ‘I learnt a lot during this trip, it was a fantastic opportunity and it has complimented my studies in Japanese.
‘The JENESYS program created a lot of great opportunities for my future but mainly wonderful and happy memories that will stay with me forever.’
‘I would like to thank St Columba’s for the opportunity to study Japanese and increase my understanding of a culture so different to our own,’ said Jacob.
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
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10 Nov 2026
From Facebook
Congratulations to Year 12 student Indigo, whose body of work, Ways of Seeing, has been nominated for consideration for the prestigious NESA ARTEXPRESS showcase! Indigo’s work, created using oil and acrylic on linen and incorporating mirrors, explores the female gaze through a series of self-portraits. Appropriating styles from a range of female artists, Indigo has thoughtfully considered composition and the positioning of the gaze within each artwork to create a compelling and thought-provoking body of work. ARTEXPRESS celebrates outstanding HSC Visual Arts major works from across NSW, making this nomination a wonderful recognition of Indigo’s creativity, artistic vision and dedication. A special mention and thank you to Visual Arts teacher David O’Doherty for his guidance, encouragement and support throughout the creative process. We are incredibly proud of you, Indigo! What a fantastic achievement! *Published with permission #StColumbas #ARTEXPRESS #VisualArts #HSCArt #StudentAchievement Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese07 Nov 2026
From Facebook
Yesterday our Year 12 students officially finished the HSC exams. Congratulations to all of you! Georgina Jelovic from the Blue Mountains Gazette joined us at the College to speak to some of the Class of 2026 about their plans for the future. Read the article to hear from Sam, Rohan and Niamh. Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
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10 Nov 2026
From Facebook
Congratulations to Year 12 student Indigo, whose body of work, Ways of Seeing, has been nominated for consideration for the prestigious NESA ARTEXPRESS showcase! Indigo’s work, created using oil and acrylic on linen and incorporating mirrors, explores the female gaze through a series of self-portraits. Appropriating styles from a range of female artists, Indigo has thoughtfully considered composition and the positioning of the gaze within each artwork to create a compelling and thought-provoking body of work. ARTEXPRESS celebrates outstanding HSC Visual Arts major works from across NSW, making this nomination a wonderful recognition of Indigo’s creativity, artistic vision and dedication. A special mention and thank you to Visual Arts teacher David O’Doherty for his guidance, encouragement and support throughout the creative process. We are incredibly proud of you, Indigo! What a fantastic achievement! *Published with permission #StColumbas #ARTEXPRESS #VisualArts #HSCArt #StudentAchievement Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
07 Nov 2026
From Facebook
Yesterday our Year 12 students officially finished the HSC exams. Congratulations to all of you! Georgina Jelovic from the Blue Mountains Gazette joined us at the College to speak to some of the Class of 2026 about their plans for the future. Read the article to hear from Sam, Rohan and Niamh. Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
07 Nov 2026
From Facebook
This afternoon Mrs Mulhall loaded TWENTY THREE generously packed bags into her car for delivery to Valley Heights Bunnings for the annual ‘It’s in the Bag’ campaign run by Share the Dignity. Our staff have donated all the bags and their contents and worked together to make sure each of the bags has all of the required items plus some additional goodies too. The collection period starts today and runs until 22 November, so there’s time if families in our community would like to contribute their own bags. All completed bags can be dropped off at any Bunnings store. Learn more about Share the Dignity and It’s in the bag at their website: https://sharethedignity.org.au/what-we-do/its-in-the-bag Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
05 Nov 2026
CSPD students strike gold at NSW All Schools
Eighteen gold medals marked another outstanding year for Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) schools at the 2026 NSW All Schools Athletics Championships, with students building on the Diocese’s strong tradition of success against the state’s best athletes.
31 Oct 2026
From Facebook
We are so proud of the way our students (and steers!) represented St Columba's at Australia's largest youth livestock event, the Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza. Thirteen students have just returned from three exciting days in Scone. They took part in competitions and spent valuable time with industry professionals and agriculture students from across the state. Congratulations to the following students who placed in their parader classes: ⭐Summah G (Y8) 5th ⭐Ivy J (Y7) 3rd ⭐Eva B (Y12) 4th The students, whilst working hard, thoroughly enjoyed their time at the event. They competed against the best of the best, networked with leaders in the industry, and had the opportunity to consider future career options. The College sincerely thanks Ms Sibbald and Mr Watson for all their time and work at the event, as well as the parents who travelled to Scone to support their children as they do what they love.
30 Oct 2026
From Facebook
The Year 10 Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award students completed their Qualifying Adventurous Journey from Mt Victoria to Blackheath via the Blue Gum Forest in Week 1 of Term 4. With the support of Mr D'Souza and Mrs McCallum, the students took on 3 rainy days and 2 very rainy nights and lived to tell the tale! Please take the time to read the article written by Bonnie in Year 10 below - it will give you a good insight into the experience. Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award From steep mountain descents and muddy creek crossings to rainy nights and unforgettable memories, the Year 10 Duke of Edinburgh students embarked on their Silver Qualifying Adventurous Journey from the 14th to the 16th of October in the beautiful Upper Blue Mountains. Beginning at the Victoria Falls car park, the group set off towards Asgard Head, Thor’s Head and the abandoned Asgard mine and kiln to explore the area and learn a little bit of local history. At the beginning of their exploration, students explored Victoria Falls and Silver Cascades, navigating slippery rocks and challenging declines while still sharing plenty of laughs. Despite the unpredictable weather, muddy tracks and leeches, the group's energy and enthusiasm remained high. After a demanding first day, with the size of our packs weighing us down, students reached Burra Korain campground, where they set up camp, explored the nearby creek, played cards and held the first Tribal Council of the trip. The following morning, after a long sleep, the group packed up and set off on a 10km walk to Acacia Flat, travelling alongside the Grose River and through the stunning Blue Gum Forest. Battling rain, muddy tracks and even more leeches, the group continued to encourage one another, stopping along the way for lunch, snacks and more moments of fun. After reaching Acacia Flat, the group set up camp for the second night, preparing for what would be a slightly wetter evening. Between cooking dinner, dealing with curious possums and reflecting during another memorable Tribal Council, students made the most of their final night together. Friday morning brought an early start, with students waking up sore and tired before breaking camp in the comfortably gloomy weather. After breakfast and an amazing early morning yoga session, the group set off on their final walk towards Evans Lookout, once again battling creek crossings, helping one another along the way, exploring around the Govetts Leap track and rock hopping over rock pools. Before beginning the final steep climb, everyone gathered to sing “Columba.” The climb tested everyone's determination with exhaustion setting in, though spirits remained strong. Tears were shed, yet big smiles followed as students reached the summit, proud of how far they had come. The journey concluded with one final Tribal Council, where everyone shared their favourite moments and reflected on what this experience had meant to them. It was a reminder that while we all shared the one track, our experience of the trip was uniquely personal. Through the discomfort, exhaustion, and unexpected challenges, students discovered that the journey's true value extended far beyond reaching the finish line, leaving them with lasting memories, a shared sense of pride, and excitement about the potential to pursue the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award next year. A special thank you goes to Mr D’Souza and Mrs McCallum for making the journey possible, providing wonderful guidance and support, and joining in with the group's many jokes throughout the expedition. Congratulations to all the Silver Duke of Edinburgh students on completing their Qualifying Journey!
24 Oct 2026
From Facebook
The 2026 Australian Short Course Swimming Championship was held 29 September to 3 October at Sydney Olympic Park. This event served as the official selection trials for the Australian team. Huge congratulations to Year 11 student Finn Kelly won a silver medal in the 1500m and made the finals in the 800m. *Published with permission Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
20 Oct 2026
From Facebook
Yesterday, Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman MP read a speech from our very own Abby R. (Year 12) in Parliament as part of the Raise Our Voice initiative. Congratulations Abby, for having your speech selected and having your voice amplified! You can watch Susan reading Abby's speech here: https://youtu.be/1NL9BmxvRD8?si=PQmpLK__dCHXCI9F #raiseourvoice #CostOfLiving
13 Oct 2026
From Facebook
Our thoughts are with our Year 12 students begin their Higher School Certificate examinations today. We hope they are confident and calm, and know they have the support of the entire College community.
24 Sep 2026
From Facebook
A huge congratulations to Year 12 student Sam, who has received a NESA Showcase nomination for SHAPE 2026 for his outstanding Design and Technology Major Project! Drawing on his passion for snow skiing, Sam identified an opportunity to develop an innovative new product for snow skiers, taking his idea through the design and development process to create an impressive Major Project worthy of recognition at state level. SHAPE showcases a selection of outstanding HSC Design and Technology projects from across NSW, making this nomination a fantastic recognition of Sam’s creativity, innovation, problem-solving and many hours of hard work. A massive shout-out also to Sam’s teacher, Ms Jodie Cusack, whose expertise, encouragement and dedication have supported Sam throughout the development of his project. Guiding a student from an initial idea all the way through to a SHAPE-nominated Major Project is an achievement well worth celebrating! We are incredibly proud of you, Sam. What a fantastic way to turn something you love into something innovative! ⛷️ *Image published with permission. Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
24 Sep 2026
From Facebook
Today we celebrate and farewell the Class of 2026. We thank them for their leadership, friendship and service to the St Columba's Catholic College community. It is with great excitement we watch them prepare to spread their wings beyond the College and share their light with the world. Graduates, as you explore, discover and learn in the years ahead, know you will always be cherished members of the St Columba's family. We wish you tremendous happiness and peace.
24 Sep 2026
From Facebook
On 1st September 2026, our school community welcomed Miles Merrill, a dynamic and professional spoken word artist from Word Travels, to deliver a unique poetry workshop at St Columba’s Catholic College. This special session brought together a group of selected Year 9 students to collaborate with one of Australia’s leading voices in performance poetry. Our students participated in the " Slam Poetry Wordshop" which is far from your average writing class. The session kicked off with captivating live performances from Miles Merrill, which immediately sparked our students' creative energy. With a unique focus on writing specifically for live performance, the workshop provided our Year 9s with exciting new techniques to plan, structure, and truly engage with the writing and performance process. During the interactive session, each student drew inspiration from their own personal experiences, community, and identity to create and confidently perform a brand-new piece of poetry. The workshop successfully taught students powerful new ways to express their creative ideas by utilising: • Volume • Movement • Pacing • Sound effects • Sensory imagery and a range of other engaging devices We are proud of the immense creativity, vulnerability, and courage our Year 9 students showed throughout the day. We look forward to seeing how they continue to use their voices to share their stories with the world! Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese