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Tennessee Christmas {review and giveaway}

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{This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, read my disclosure policy.}

There is no denying it. Christmas time is here! That means celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, cherished time spent with family, trimming the Christmas tree, baking yummy treats in the oven and wrapping gifts. All of those experiences truly come to life with Christmas Amy Grant Tennessee Christmas (1)music playing in the background. The perfect CD that will help you set the tone this Christmas season is Amy Grant’s Tennessee Christmas.

It has been three years since Amy has released a CD and more than 16 years since she released a Christmas album. I would say, it is about time and that you will not be disappointed. Tennessee Christmas is the perfect gift from Amy to all of her fans (thank you Amy) as well as to those who may be new to her music.

Tennessee Christmas is personal to Amy and she “opens the door” for all to come inside and be a part of her family Christmas. Amy takes us from her childhood Christmas memories and carries us through to those she has experienced as an adult, with the selection of the songs she sings.

I have already listened to the CD several times, which includes the following songs:
“Tennessee Christmas”
“To Be Together”
“Christmas For You And Me”
“Melancholy Christmas”
“December”
“White Christmas”
“Joy To The World”
“I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm”
“Baby, It’s Cold Outside”
“Christmas Don’t Be Late”
“Still Can’t Sleep”
“Another Merry Christmas”
“O Come, All Ye Faithful”

You may see titles of some familiar songs, which Amy sings in her special fashion. In fact, Amy’s husband, Vince Gill, joins her in their rendition of “Baby, It’ Cold Outside”. I like that one. But, the one I really enjoy is the title selection, “Tennessee Christmas”, which she co-wrote with Gary Chapman more than 20 years ago. On this CD, Amy shares co-writing credits with others on “To Be Together”, “Melancholy Christmas” and “Another Merry Christmas”. My daughter and I also like “To Be Together” {listen to the song}.

You will enjoy looking through the snapshots from Amy’s Christmases that are included in the CD booklet. She sings one of her father’s favorite Christmas songs, “O Come, All Ye Faithful”. Christmas is a special time for Amy and she wants you to share your memories with her by uploading any videos you may have of surprising a loved one for the holidays. See an example.

”We’ll be making a compilation video and posting it to Amy’s socials (this specific video has not been announced yet though). Those chosen will be part of a compilation video that Amy herself will share on her large social media outlets!”

Use #TNChristmasSurprise! when posting to social media.

If you are in the Tennessee area, you may want to try to catch Amy Grant and Vince Gill on stage at the Ryman Theatre for their annual Christmas concert. Since I know some of you may not be able to make it to Tennessee, I have another way for you to enjoy Amy for Christmas. I have a CD copy of Tennessee Christmas” to give away. Would you like to win the CD?

You may also purchase Tennessee Christmas.


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©2016-2017 Homeschool Roster. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://www.homeschoolroster.com/.

Bible Journal Kit {review and giveaway}

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{This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, read my disclosure policy.}

I have always had a difficult time writing in my books. So, I guess you can imagine when it comes to my Bible, that is a definite “no no.” Or, at least it was for a long time. For many years, my primary Bible remained clean (ex: no writing, no highlighting, no creased pages, etc.). It looked funny against the Bibles of others who had carefully taken notes, highlighted sections in multiple colors and dog-eared pages for easy access. If you really use your Bible as a study guide for life, it should not be clean. There should be a lot of notes and a variety of colors marking those important and favorite verses and passages you want to remember. A few dog-eared pages are also all right.

bible_journaling_kitThe Bible Journaling Kit by Ellie Claire encourages you to:

”Create a work of art on the pages of your favorite Bible. Draw, color, or journal your thoughts, dreams, and prayers. Highlight your favorite verses or the encouragements that speak to your heart with pencils, stickers, and tabs.”

Well, so much for a clean Bible, and for good reasons. The Bible Journaling Kit comes with the following:

  • 4 sheets of word stickers
  • 4 sheets of alphabet stickers
  • 24 tab stickers
  • 8 colored pencil twists
  • 1 journaling pen
  • 1 pouch with adjustable strap to fit Bibles of all sizes
  • 1 ruled page protector mat with tracing lines

Although you do not have to be an “artsy” kind of person to enjoy using the Bible Journal Kit, I did give the kit to my daughter. She has been spending more time in the Word (yippee- she also takes a lot of notes). If you have a child who needs encouragement (or even you) to spend more time reading God’s Word, having the Bible Journaling Kit will enhance your active investigation (learning more about God).

With the Christmas season right now, the Bible Journaling Kit would make a nice gift for someone special. Hmm, Christmas gift? Anytime gift? Would you like a chance to win a Bible Journaling Kit? You have two different opportunities.

It’s okay to write, draw and put stickers on your Bible pages. This Journaling Bible Kit encourages you to do that as you dig deeper into the Word.

Two Great Ways to Win!

#1 Giveaway: Be one of five winners of the Bible Journaling Kit from through Thursday, December 15, from Ellie Claire/ Worthy Publishing. Enter now.

#2 Giveaway: Homeschool Roster will open a giveaway on Monday, December 5, for you to win a copy of the Bible Journaling Kit. This giveaway is open to people in the continental U.S. only (No Canadian winners may be accepted).


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©2016-2017 Homeschool Roster. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://www.homeschoolroster.com/.Enter now

Christmas Love Letters from God Bible Stories {review and giveaway}

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christmas_love_letters.jpgWe all need a little bit more love in our lives and there is nothing better than receiving a love letter written just to you. It is even more special when it is a love letter from God. In Christmas Love Letters from God Bible Stories, readers learn about the coming and birth of Jesus. The story is brought to life in this colorfully illustrated, creative page turning and flap-lifting (literally) book. The book is geared towards children, ages four to eight-years-old, but may also be enjoyed by children a few years older.

Christmas Love Letters from God Bible Stories includes seven stories:

“Isaiah’s Good News”
“Mary’s Song”
“Joseph’s Dream”
“Bethlehem’s Road”
“Jesus Joy!”
“Shepherd’s Surprise”
“Wise Men’s Wonder”

“Isaiah’s Good News” tells of the message Isaiah hears from God announcing the coming of Jesus. Each story walks readers through a timeline, of sorts, as the message becomes truth. In “Bethlehem’s Road”, Mary and Joseph are entering Bethlehem just before the birth of Jesus. “Jesus Joy!” Welcomes Jesus into the world and the book finishes with the Wise Men, in “Wise Men’s Wonder”. You cannot tell the story of the birth of Jesus without the Wise Men.

In each version of the stories author Glenys Nellist tells, she shares the Bible passage that references that part of the original story that tells of the birth of Jesus. At the end of each story is a personal love letter written to the reader of the book. The letter appears as a lift-the-flap on the page at the end of each story. A blank is left (ex: Dear _________) for you to write the name of the child who is the recipient of the book. Depending on the age of the child, you may let them write in their own name or you may want to complete it before reading the book to the child. A younger child may enjoy seeing their name already written in the book. Each Christmas love letter makes a note regarding the story it follows and closes with a reminder of how much God loves us.

Christmas Love Letters from God Bible Stories is a book that tells a very familiar story – the birth of Jesus. There is the recanting of the story and very special love letters from God reminding us of how much He loves us, which was shown through the precious gift of Jesus.

Published by ZonderKidz
Available from Amazon for $16.99

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Guess what? Homeschool Roster has a copy of the Christmas Love Letters from God Bible Stories book for you to win.


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©2016-2017 Homeschool Roster. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://www.homeschoolroster.com/.

Where Jesus Slept {review and giveaway}

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{This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, read my disclosure policy.}

where_jesus_sleptIt is Christmas time. Okay, well there are 40 more days until Christmas. The season and the holiday are two occasions I always look forward to each year. Along with the special food we eat, there are also movies and books that keep us entertained. Although I already have some favorite books, it is exciting when I am introduced to new Christmas books that eventually get added to our list. Where Jesus Slept by Norma Lewis and illustrated by Katy Hudson is one of those books.

My children are older, but we still enjoy read-alouds together. Occasionally, my children humor me and allow me to read a children’s book to them. Where Jesus Slept walks readers through a story that tells them about the birth of Jesus. The story opens placing us at the edge of the city of Bethlehem. We learn the Messiah has been born, which is a reference to the Bible verse Luke 2:10B-11. With each turn of the page, Lewis draws the reader closer to the actual event through written word. Moving from the edge of Bethlehem to the bed, the straw that lined it, the cow that shared the straw, the stable that sheltered the cow – all Where Jesus Slept. The story is told in a cumulative manner with each description that builds on top of the other. It eventually becomes a mouthful, but one you and your child will enjoy sharing together as you repeat the sequence and your child tries to remember the order of the new scenes in the story.

The pictures Hudson has drawn compliment the story Lewis tells. The colors are vivid and are ones that will capture the attention of a child who has probably heard the story of the birth of Jesus, multiple times. Although the story of the birth of Jesus is told often during the Christmas season, Where Jesus Slept is one book you may find your child pulling from their bookshelf for you to read anytime during the year.

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Guess what? Homeschool Roster has a copy of the Where Jesus Slept book for you to win.


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©2016-2017 Homeschool Roster. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://www.homeschoolroster.com/.

Say & Pray Devotions {review and giveaway}

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{This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, read my disclosure policy.}

PastedGraphic-1 (1)Building relationships does not occur overnight, but instead happens over the course of time. One of the most important relationships your child will ever have is the one they create with God. That relationship will start with reading the Bible and continue through quiet times of prayer and devotion with Him. Say & Pray Devotions is the latest book from bestselling children’s author Diane Stortz. She has already sold more than 300,000 other Bible storybooks and devotionals. The addition of Say & Pray Devotions will surely increase that number.

If you are already familiar with Stortz’s Say & Pray Bible, you know how appealing her books are to children. If you are new to her work, you will be pleased with the book, which is colorfully illustrated by Sarah Ward. The devotional walks children through a-day-in-the-life starting with “Good Morning” and closes with “Sweet Dreams”. At the turn of each page, Stortz introduces people, occurrences and experiences children may be presented with in their day. “My Family”, “Joyful Noise”, “Watch Me” and more are some of the ideas she shares. Along with each one, Stortz includes visual descriptions of common words specific to the idea and a Bible verse for the child to “Say and Pray” with gratitude for the different things God has created. They will enjoy practicing identifying “objects and words” while listening to you read to them. Reading through the devotional will help you introduce your children to biblical principles and set the foundation for the relationship they will form with God.

You may learn more about Say & Pray Devotions.

Social Media
Facebook: Tommy Nelson Books
Twitter: Tommy Nelson Books
Pinterest: Tommy Nelson Books
Instagram: Tommy Nelson Books

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Guess what? Homeschool Roster has a copy of the Say & Pray Devotions book for you to win.


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©2016-2017 Homeschool Roster. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://www.homeschoolroster.com/.

CLE 37th Annual Christian Educators’ Workshop

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cle_workshop

You have made it this far into the school year. How is it going for you? Do you already feel like you need some encouragement? A little pick me up and reminder of why you decided homeschooling was the path for your family? Well, maybe a day at the 37th Annual Christian Educators’ Workshop presented by Christian Light Education may be one well spent.

Christian Light Education (CLE) is a well-known curriculum in the academic community. It is a division of Christian Light Publications (CLP), a literature ministry that has produced Christian books, pamphlets and tracts for more than 40 years. Through CLE, CLP has been able to provide children and youth with a solid Christian education with the curriculum it produces for homeschools and Christian schools.

CLE brings its annual educator’s workshop to West Tennessee where it will be hosted at the Whiteville Mennonite Church on Wednesday, October 26, from 8:30 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. The theme is “Cultivating a Love of Learning” and it is a full day of fellowship and workshops that will cover a variety of topics.

“The workshops are not just geared for people who are using their curriculum. It is for the general education,” said Merlin Mast, of the Whiteville Mennonite Church. “There are more practical workshops basically to encourage and inspire homeschoolers and small Christian schools with the need of a Christian education.”

Some of the topics include:
The Joy of Learning
Middle Grade Math Challenges
Motivated Teachers Motivate Learners

See the full workshop schedule.

The workshop will feature speakers Jonathan Erb, Lyndon Hartman and Peter Whitt.

The event is free and the Whiteville Mennonite Church will be providing food for the workshop attendees. Although there will be on-site registration, a telephone call would be appreciated to ensure they properly prepare for all of those who plan to attend the workshop.

37th Annual Christian Educators’ Workshop
Wednesday, October 26, from 8:30 a.m. – 8:15 p.m.

Whiteville Mennonite Church
7065 Fayette Corner Road
Whiteville, Tennessee 38075
(731) 659-2576 (home)
(731) 609-1746 (cell)

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©2016 Homeschool Roster. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://www.homeschoolroster.com/.

Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters {review}

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Pretty is as pretty does or rather beautiful is as…or is it beauty is only skin deep? No matter how you look at it, beauty will only carry you so far, because at some point you will reveal your true self once you open your mouth. Mufaro has two equally beautiful daughters named Nyasha and Manyara. He loves them both and believes their beauty transcends their personalities such that only a king could choose between the two of them.

mufaros_beauitiful_daughtersNyasha is kind and loving while, unbeknownst to Mufaro, his daughter Manyara is spoiled and selfish, and cautious to never behave like that around her father. It is the villagers and Manyara’s own sister, Nyasha, who experience Manyara’s difficult and unkind behavior. Because of her love for her father, Nyasha never reveals the treatment she receives from Manyara, which only goes to her credit as a loving daughter whose beauty also reigns in her heart.

As you read the book, you get to see examples of Nyasha’s gentle spirit and joy for life through her hard work and song. During the course of one day, she comes across a friendly garden snake that later becomes a constant companion for her as she tends to her garden. Later in the book, we learn how important this snake truly becomes to Nyasha.

When the king announces he is looking for a wife, Mufaro immediately packs to travel the next day to the city with a wedding party made up of friends from the village. He believes, without certainty, that one of his daughters will be chosen to be queen. Mufaro is not alone in his belief that one of them will be chosen, and Manyara thinks it should be her, so she sets out the night before the wedding party to appear first before the king.

On Manyara’s trek to the city, she comes across a hungry boy with whom she shares nothing, ignores the advice of a wise old woman and later disrespects a “man with his head under his arm.” Manyara, who is determined to make it to the city before her sister, is concerned only with herself.

The wedding party leaves the following morning convinced Manyara is already on her way and comes across the same people whom she also crossed. This time, the boy is fed and the old woman is heeded to by Nyasha, which leads Nyasha on a different path to the city; she never crosses the headless man.

Once arriving in the city, they are greeted by Manyara who comes running out of the palace crying hysterically about a “snake with five heads.” Nyasha leaves her sister in the care of her father and proceeds into the palace only to be greeted by her gardening companion, the garden snake who reveals his true identity and all the other ways he appeared to Nyasha.

A real prince can determine true beauty and only desires a real princess with a kind and loving heart inside and out. Who do you think he choses?

Amazon: Murfaro’s Beautiful Daughter’s

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BUC E-Day Returns to CBU

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cbu_bucdayOver the past few years, “STEM education” has become the new buzz phrase, and the buzz is strong. Christian Brothers University (CBU) in Memphis held its first BUC E-Day last year with more than 50 students attending the event. A second event followed in October and again returns later this month. More students are expected to attend this event, which will be held on Saturday, October 29, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the school campus.

“The purpose of the event is to engage students in middle school to high school in STEM activities and to foster a love for STEM in them,” said CBU undergraduate student Trey McGinnis, who is studying Computer Science, Electrical Engineering and Mathematics at the school. His father, Gene, is an Associate Professor and chair of the CBU Civil & Environmental Engineering department.

McGinnis is also a member of the Theta Tau colony, a national professional engineering fraternity, aimed at developing its members professionally and socially, which is hosting the event. The colony was established last year on the CBU campus and will eventually become a full chapter.

BUC E-Day will be a day full of hands-on competition experiments; demonstrations, and interaction with current CBU students and teachers. Students will also be able to compete individually or as a team in five different competitions: Egg Drop; CO2 Car; Balsa Tower and K’nex Bridge. There will be a number of demonstrations, including the bed of nails, which is also known as the “loop of death.”

“While we aim for students in the middle school range, we have had younger students compete. We will not turn away a student based on age. Competitions, such as the K’nex Bridge and Egg Drop, are especially compatible for younger participants,” said McGinnis.

McGinnis stressed the importance of more students becoming involved in the STEM field. He noted science, technology, engineering and mathematics are fields of the future.

“If we want hover cars, we need to invest in STEM,” said McGinnis who also works in the CBU IT department as a programmer analyst. “Computers, medicines, prosthetic devices, and many more objects that enable us to live and thrive and communicate and explore the world around us are tangible payoffs of someone investing in STEM. Through exploration of our curiosity and questioning the way things are done, we will be able to create some incredible things for the future.”

McGinnis said traditionally, electrical engineering has had the highest numbers for graduates at CBU, but recently the mechanical engineering classes have been larger. More men tend to pursue STEM careers than women and McGinnis hopes that will change.

“We need to encourage high performing students, especially women, to test the limits and research possibilities,” said McGinnis. “BUC E-Day will offer a lot to students and we hope they will appreciate not only the importance of engineering, but how much fun it can be! We’re trying to encourage students interested in engineering to pursue it. Who knows what we as a people can accomplish?”

You may register for Buc E-Day 2016. A fee applies only for competition and a food pass, otherwise admission is free. The fee to compete is $15, which includes lunch, and a food pass is only $5. Contact Trey at for more information.

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©2016 Homeschool Roster. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://www.homeschoolroster.com/.

Baby, Baby! {review and giveaway}

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One thing I miss now that my children are getting older is cuddling and enjoying a good board book together. I use to enjoy introducing language to them, their excitement of me reading to them and their little bitty fingers turning the thick board pages. That was always so much fun for them. Another thing I miss about that are the adorable stories that were contained inside of those board books. The babies are cute, the animals are cute and the books are usually “everything baby” just like the new board book story Baby Baby!, which is written by Diane Stortz.

PastedGraphic-1If a baby has ever been a part of your life, you may remember them being amazed at everything about themselves. From their feet to the toes on those feet, to their baby giggles and baby kisses. Everything they see and everything they are able to do is just so amazing and new to them. Stortz captures all of the new discoveries in Baby Baby! through rhyming and a whole lot of busy babies.

Before you open the book and begin reading, babies can enjoy looking at themselves in the mirror that appears on the cover of the book. Baby Baby! is a “mirror book”, so babies are not only able to watch what other babies do, they are able to watch themselves do whatever it is babies do.

Some of the activities you and your baby will enjoy while reading through the book are watching babies “wave, crawl, reaching, drinking, cuddling, winking and smiling.” Illustrations by Ailie Busby introduce your child to a number of babies and your baby just may see one who reminds them of themselves. You may make reading through the book even more exciting by having your baby do some of the actions, mentioned in the book, on their own. They will be amazed at their abilities.

Before you turn to the last page Stortz reminds your baby that they are “loved by God. The story finishes with a larger mirror that is framed with the words “Who does God love? God loves (insert your baby’s name) and a Bible verse. Jeremiah 41:3b “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” God loves everything about us from the time we were babies.

#BabyBaby, #FlyBy

Baby Baby! is now available for purchase for $7.99.

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Guess what? Homeschool Roster has a copy of the Baby, Baby! book for you to win.


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©2016-2017 Homeschool Roster. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://www.homeschoolroster.com/.

The Afters: Live on Forever {review}

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aftersWhen you hear “it’s all in the name,” that statement is one that holds very true for Live on Forever, which is the title of the latest CD released by The Afters. The compilation of songs is one that came together over two years and out of the ashes of tragedy.

” Just as the band regrouped to record, Havens witnessed the wife of a close friend contract cancer. Drummer Jordan Mohilowski (who produced the new album) had a brief health scare, and a close companion in his church—part of the worship team—was hit and killed by an impaired driver. She was a young woman, Havens says, who had unlimited potential.

The Afters, a Christian rock band, has been entertaining audiences for more than 15 years. It has been a little over three years since they released their last album. Live Forever is the bands sixth album since in inception in 1999. Drummer Jordan Mohilowski; bass guitarist Dan Ostebo; vocalist and guitarist Matt Fuqua and lead vocalist and guitarist Joshua Havens, return and bring the good music their fans remember.

There are 10 tracks on the CD. The songs are a combination of light beats (ex: “Battles”, “Time of My Life”, “Eyes of a Believer”, “Survivor” and “Legends”) to a more ethereal sound in the title track, “Live on Forever”, which also has a video. The album finishes with “When You’re With Me”, which reminds us of the comfort God can bring into our lives when He is a part of it. “Everything is how it should be when you’re with me.”

If you are a fan of The Afters, you will be pleased with Live on Forever. If you are new to their music, it is a nice introduction. What fans get from Live on Forever is an album of hope, inspiration and a reminder that God is always by our sides through the good and the bad; through it all.

Official website: The Afters
The Afters on Twitter
The Afters on Facebook
The Afters on Instagram

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©2016-2017 Homeschool Roster. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://www.homeschoolroster.com/.

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