G’day Cobbers. How ya goin’? This term we have been looking at natural and man made structures around our great country, Australia. We are very excited about making 3D dioramas of one of them in the coming weeks. Some are making the Big Pineapple from Queensland, others Wave Rock in Western Australia. Some are even making the Telstra Dome from New South Wales or Uluru from the Northern Territory. There is sure to be one big mess in our room. Hoo Roo fellow Aussies.

Year 3 students have been learning about issues with email.
FACT: Email can contain all kinds of nasty things like spam, hoaxes, viruses and inappropriate content.
TIP: Never open email from people, businesses or organisations that you don't know.
Visit CyberQuoll (www.cyberquoll.com.au) to find out more.

On Tuesday our school swimming squad attended the Noosa District Carnival. All of our participants put in a great effort and many achieved significantly faster times than at our school trials. Shannon achieved three firsts and two seconds to take out the 11 yrs girls Age Champion. Stephanie was runner up Age Champion in the 10 yrs girls division, and Jaimi achieved three firsts to be Age Champion in the 13 yrs girls division. Shannon (200IM, 50m backstroke, butterfly, breastroke and freestyle) and Stephanie (50m backstroke, butterfly and freestyle) will go on to compete at the Regional Carnival on March 4, while Jaimi may be eligible to compete at the High School Carnival. Also achieving selection in the district team are Jye (50m backstroke and butterfly) and Cooper (50m freestyle) in the 10 yrs boys division. Well done to our entire team for a great effort in representing Coolum School proudly. A HUGE thank you to parents who assisted with transport, team management and time keeping on the day.                          

Under the new Education Tax Refund, parents and others who are eligible can now claim 50% of their eligible education expenses up to $750 for primary students and $1500 for secondary students.

This means you could receive a refund each year of up to $375 for each primary and $750 for each secondary school student in your care.

To be eligible you must have received Family Tax Benefit Part A for each child whose education expenses you wish to claim. You can also claim the Education Tax Refund if you were stopped from receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A because your child received any of the following:

·         Youth Allowance (student) aged 18

·         Disability Support Pension

·         ABSTUDY

·         the Veterans’ Children Education Scheme

·         the Student Financial Supplement Scheme

·         a scheme under s258 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004

·         an Australian Postgraduate Award.

Independent students are also eligible to claim.

You can claim the purchase, lease, hire or hire-purchase costs, repairs and running costs of: 

·         laptops, home computers and associated costs — for example, internet and paper

·         educational software, printers, USB flash drives, disability aids to assist in the use of computer equipment for students with special needs

·         stationery and art supplies

·         school textbooks and associated learning materials

·         trade tools and safety equipment for secondary school trade courses.

       Some of the expenses you cannot claim include school fees or the cost of school uniforms, school excursions or travel to and from school, musical instruments or sporting equipment, clothing or footwear. For a more comprehensive list visit www.educationtaxrefund.gov.au

You can claim your education expenses in your 2009 tax return. If you do not have to lodge a tax return, you will be able to lodge a separate claim with the Tax Office from 1 July 2009.

If your education expenses in one year are more than the claim limit for your children, you can add the excess to your education expenses for the following year.

 For more information:

·         visit www.educationtaxrefund.gov.au

·         phone the Tax Office on 13 28 61.