Aging is inevitable, and for many, it signals the beginning of a new chapter - one where you cross off bucket list items and live life to the fullest, on your own terms. However, for some women, aging is a horrible prospect, filled with chronic fatigue, irritability, and inability to perform in the bedroom. If you're concerned about life in middle age and beyond, we've got great news: there are easy, proven steps that you can take to help stop the negative effect of aging.
Global Life Rejuvenation was founded to give women a new lease on life - one that includes less body fat, fewer mood swings, and more energy as you age. If you're ready to look and feel younger, it's time to consider HRT (hormone replacement therapy), and growth hormone peptides. These therapies for men and women are effective, safe, and customized to fit your goals, so you can keep loving life as you get older.
HRT, and growth hormone peptide therapies bridge the gap between your old life and the more vibrant, happier version of you. With a simple click or call, you can be well on your way to a brighter future. After all, you deserve to be the one in charge of your wellness and health. Now, you have the tools to do so - backed by science and applied by our team of HRT experts with more than 13 years of experience.
As women age, their hormones begin to go through changes that affect their day-to-day lives. For women, hormone deficiency and imbalance usually occur during menopause and can cause chronic fatigue, hot flashes, and mood swings, among other issues. Hormone replacement therapy helps correct hormone imbalances in women, helping them feel more vibrant and virile as they age.
Often, HRT treatments give patients enhanced quality of life that they didn't think was possible - even in their 60's and beyond.
The benefits for women are numerous and are available today through Global Life Rejuvenation.
As women age, their bodies begin to go through significant changes that affect their quality of life. This change is called menopause and marks the end of a woman's menstrual cycle and reproduction ability. Though there is no specific age when this change occurs, the average age of menopause onset is 51 years old. However, according to doctors, menopause officially starts 12 months after a woman's final period. During the transition to menopause, women's estrogen and other hormones begin to deplete.
As that happens, many women experience severe symptoms. These symptoms include:
The symptoms of hormone deficiency can be concerning and scary for both women and their spouses. However, if you're getting older and notice some of these symptoms, there is reason to be hopeful. Hormone replacement therapy and anti-aging medicine for women can correct imbalances that happen during menopause. These safe, effective treatments leave you feeling younger, healthier, and more vibrant.
The most common reason for menopause is the natural decline in a female's reproductive hormones. However, menopause can also result from the following situations:
Oophorectomy: This surgery, which removes a woman's ovaries, causes immediate menopause. Symptoms and signs of menopause in this situation can be severe, as the hormonal changes happen abruptly.
Chemotherapy: Cancer treatments like chemotherapy can induce menopause quickly, causing symptoms to appear shortly after or even during treatment.
Ovarian Insufficiency: Also called premature ovarian failure, this condition is essentially premature menopause. It happens when a woman's ovaries quit functioning before the age of 40 and can stem from genetic factors and disease. Only 1% of women suffer from premature menopause, but HRT can help protect the heart, brain, and bones.
For many women, menopause is a trying time that can be filled with many hormonal hurdles to jump through. A little knowledge can go a long way, whether you're going through menopause now or are approaching "that" age.
Here are some of the most common issues that women experience during menopause:
If you're a woman going through menopause and find that you have become increasingly depressed, you're not alone. It's estimated that 15% of women experience depression to some degree while going through menopause. What many women don't know is that depression can start during perimenopause, or the years leading up to menopause.
Depression can be hard to diagnose, especially during perimenopause and menopause. However, if you notice the following signs, it might be time to speak with a physician:
Remember, if you're experiencing depression, you're not weak or broken - you're going through a very regular emotional experience. The good news is that with proper treatment from your doctor, depression isn't a death sentence. And with HRT and anti-aging treatment for women, depression could be the catalyst you need to enjoy a new lease on life.
Hot flashes - they're one of the most well-known symptoms of menopause. Hot flashes are intense, sudden feelings of heat across a woman's upper body. Some last second, while others last minutes, making them incredibly inconvenient and uncomfortable for most women.
Symptoms of hot flashes include:
Typically, hot flashes are caused by a lack of estrogen. Low estrogen levels negatively affect a woman's hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls body temperature and appetite. Low estrogen levels cause the hypothalamus to incorrectly assume the body is too hot, dilating blood vessels to increase blood flow. Luckily, most women don't have to settle for the uncomfortable feelings that hot flashes cause. HRT treatments for women often stabilize hormones, lessening the effects of hot flashes and menopause in general.
Mood swings are common occurrences for most people - quick shifts from happy to angry and back again, triggered by a specific event. And while many people experience mood swings, they are particularly common for women going through menopause. That's because, during menopause, the female's hormones are often imbalanced. Hormone imbalances and mood swings go hand-in-hand, resulting in frequent mood changes and even symptoms like insomnia.
The rate of production of estrogen, a hormone that fluctuates during menopause, largely determines the rate of production the hormone serotonin, which regulates mood, causing mood swings.
Luckily, HRT and anti-aging treatments in Watchung, NJ for women work wonders for mood swings by regulating hormone levels like estrogen. With normal hormone levels, women around the world are now learning that they don't have to settle for mood swings during menopause.
Staying fit and healthy is hard for anyone living in modern America. However, for women with hormone imbalances during perimenopause or menopause, weight gain is even more serious. Luckily, HRT treatments for women coupled with a physician-led diet can help keep weight in check. But which hormones need to be regulated?
Lowered sexual desire - three words most men and women hate to hear. Unfortunately, for many women in perimenopausal and menopausal states, it's just a reality of life. Thankfully, today, HRT and anti-aging treatments Watchung, NJ can help women maintain a normal, healthy sex drive. But what causes low libido in women, especially as they get older?
The hormones responsible for low libido in women are progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone.
Progesterone production decreases during perimenopause, causing low sex drive in women. Lower progesterone production can also cause chronic fatigue, weight gain, and other symptoms. On the other hand, lower estrogen levels during menopause lead to vaginal dryness and even vaginal atrophy or loss of muscle tension.
Lastly, testosterone plays a role in lowered libido. And while testosterone is often grouped as a male hormone, it contributes to important health and regulatory functionality in women. A woman's testosterone serves to heighten sexual responses and enhances orgasms. When the ovaries are unable to produce sufficient levels of testosterone, it often results in a lowered sex drive.
Often uncomfortable and even painful, vaginal dryness is a serious problem for sexually active women. However, like hair loss in males, vaginal dryness is very common - almost 50% of women suffer from it during menopause.
Getting older is just a part of life, but that doesn't mean you have to settle for the side effects. HRT and anti-aging treatments for women correct vaginal dryness by re-balancing estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. When supplemented with diet and healthy living, your vagina's secretions are normalized, causing discomfort to recede.
Uterine fibroids - they're perhaps the least-known symptom of menopause and hormone imbalances in women. That's because these growths on the uterus are often symptom-free. Unfortunately, these growths can be cancerous, presenting a danger for women as they age.
Many women will have fibroids at some point. Because they're symptomless, they're usually found during routine doctor exams. Some women only get one or two, while others may have large clusters of fibroids. Because fibroids are usually caused by hormone imbalances, hysterectomies have been used as a solution, forcing women into early menopause.
Advances in HRT and anti-aging medicine for women give females a safer, non-surgical option without having to experience menopause early. At Global Life Rejuvenation, our expert physicians will implement a customized HRT program to stabilize your hormones and reduce the risk of cancerous fibroid growth.
Endometriosis symptoms are much like the effects of PMS, and include pelvic pain, fatigue, cramping, and bloating. While doctors aren't entirely sure what causes this painful, uncomfortable condition, most agree that hormones - particularly xenoestrogens - play a factor.
Endometriosis symptoms are much like the effects of PMS and include pelvic pain, fatigue, cramping, and bloating. While doctors aren't entirely sure what causes this painful, uncomfortable condition, most agree that hormones - particularly xenoestrogens - play a factor.
Xenoestrogen is a hormone that is very similar to estrogen. Too much xenoestrogen is thought to stimulate endometrial tissue growth. HRT for women helps balance these hormones and, when used with a custom nutrition program, can provide relief for women across the U.S.
Hormone stability is imperative for a healthy sex drive and for a normal, stress-free life during menopause. HRT and anti-aging treatments for women balance the hormones that your body has altered due to perimenopause or menopause.
HRT for women is a revolutionary step in helping women live their best lives, even as they grow older. However, at Global Life Rejuvenation, we know that no two patients are the same. That's why we specialize in holistic treatments that utilize HRT, combined with healthy nutrition, supplements, and fitness plans that maximize hormone replacement treatments.
If you've been suffering through menopause, is HRT the answer? That's hard to say without an examination by a trusted physician, but one thing's for sure. When a woman balances her hormone levels, she has a much better shot at living a regular life with limited depression, weight gain, mood swings, and hot flashes.
Here are just a few additional benefits of HRT and anti-aging treatments for females:
Hormone imbalance causes a litany of issues. But with anti-aging treatments for women, females can better process calcium, keep their cholesterol levels safe, and maintain a healthy vagina. By replenishing the body's estrogen supply, HRT can relieve symptoms from menopause and protect against osteoporosis. But that's just the start.
Global Life Rejuvenation's patients report many more benefits of HRT and anti-aging medicine for women:
If you're ready to feel better, look better, and recapture the vitality of your youth, it's time to contact Global Life Rejuvenation. It all starts with an in-depth consultation, where we will determine if HRT and anti-aging treatments for women are right for you. After all, every patient's body and hormone levels are different. Since all our treatment options are personalized, we do not have a single threshold for treatment. Instead, we look at our patient's hormone levels and analyze them on a case-by-case basis.
At Global Life Rejuvenation, we help women rediscover their youth with HRT treatment for women. We like to think of ourselves as an anti-aging concierge service, guiding and connecting our patients to the most qualified HRT physicians available. With customized HRT treatment plan for women, our patients experience fewer menopausal symptoms, less perimenopause & menopause depression, and often enjoy a more youth-like appearance.
Growth hormone peptides are an innovative therapy that boosts the natural human growth hormone production in a person's body. These exciting treatment options help slow down the aging process and give you a chance at restoring your youth.
Sermorelin is a synthetic hormone peptide, like GHRH, which triggers the release of growth hormones. When used under the care of a qualified physician, Sermorelin can help you lose weight, increase your energy levels, and help you feel much younger.
Human growth hormone (HGH) therapy has been used for years to treat hormone deficiencies. Unlike HGH, which directly replaces declining human growth hormone levels, Sermorelin addresses the underlying cause of decreased HGH, stimulating the pituitary gland naturally. This approach keeps the mechanisms of growth hormone production active.
Ipamorelin helps to release growth hormones in a person's body by mimicking a peptide called ghrelin. Ghrelin is one of three hormones which work together to regulate the growth hormone levels released by the pituitary gland. Because Ipamorelin stimulates the body to produce growth hormone, your body won't stop its natural growth hormone production, which occurs with synthetic HGH.
Ipamorelin causes growth hormone secretion that resembles natural release patterns rather than being constantly elevated from HGH. Because ipamorelin stimulates the natural production of growth hormone, our patients can use this treatment long-term with fewer health risks.
One of the biggest benefits of Ipamorelin is that it provides significant short and long-term benefits in age management therapies. Ipamorelin can boost a patient's overall health, wellbeing, and outlook on life.
When there is an increased concentration of growth hormone by the pituitary gland, there are positive benefits to the body. Some benefits include:
Whether you are considering our HRT and anti-aging treatments for women in Watchung, NJ, we are here to help. The first step to reclaiming your life begins by contacting Global Life Rejuvenation. Our friendly, knowledgeable HRT experts can help answer your questions and walk you through our procedures. From there, we'll figure out which treatments are right for you. Before you know it, you'll be well on your way to looking and feeling better than you have in years!
973-587-8638
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Brown women's basketball freshman Grace Arnolie was named Honorable Mention All-Ivy, the league announced on Wednesday.Arnolie finished the season second on the team in scoring (11.7 ppg) and led the team with 56 assists and 52 steals. She was also second on the team with 43 made three pointers, 113 made field goals and 35 made free throws.During Ivy League play, Arn...
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Brown women's basketball freshman Grace Arnolie was named Honorable Mention All-Ivy, the league announced on Wednesday.
Arnolie finished the season second on the team in scoring (11.7 ppg) and led the team with 56 assists and 52 steals. She was also second on the team with 43 made three pointers, 113 made field goals and 35 made free throws.
During Ivy League play, Arnolie increased her scoring to 13.1 points per game, good for 10th in the league. The Vienna, Va., native led the Bears, shooting 36 percent from three during league play.
For the season, Arnolie finished in double figures in 17 games, including the last seven games of the season. Arnolie reached double figures in 11 of her 14 Ivy League games. The freshman finished with a career-best 23 points against Monmouth (Nov. 25), one of three 20-point games this season.
Arnolie is the only freshman to make an All-Ivy Team.
Junior Kyla Jones was named Academic All-Ivy after her success on both the court and in the classroom.
The full list of All-Ivy teams and Major Award winners can be found below.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR Kaitlyn Chen, Princeton (Jr. — San Marino, Calif.)
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR Madison St. Rose, Princeton (Fr. — Old Bridge, N.J.)
CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Ellie Mitchell, Princeton (Jr. — Chevy Chase, Md.)
CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Nyla McGill, Yale (So. — Charlotte, N.C.)
COACH OF THE YEAR Megan Griffith, Columbia
FIRST TEAM ALL-IVY *Kaitlyn Davis, Columbia (Sr. — Norwalk, Conn.) *Abbey Hsu, Columbia (Jr. — Parkland, Fla.) *Harmoni Turner, Harvard (So. — Mansfield, Texas) *Kayla Padilla, Penn (Sr. — Torrance, Calif.) *Kaitlyn Chen, Princeton (Jr. — San Marino, Calif.)
SECOND TEAM ALL-IVY Jaida Patrick, Columbia (Sr. — West Haverstraw, N.Y.) Lola Mullaney, Harvard (Jr. — Rumson, N.J.) Jordan Obi, Penn (Jr. — Cupertino, Calif.) Julia Cunningham, Princeton (Sr. — Watchung, N.J.) Grace Stone, Princeton (Sr. — Glen Cove, N.Y.) ^Jenna Clark, Yale (Jr. — Pittsburgh, Pa.)
HONORABLE MENTION Grace Arnolie, Brown (Fr. — Vienna, Va.) Kitty Henderson, Columbia (So. — North Curl Curl, Australia) Elena Rodriguez, Harvard (So. — Aguimes, Spain)
* Unanimous selection ^ Team expanded due to ties in voting
BROWN UNIVERSITY SPORTS FOUNDATION The Brown University Sports Foundation (BUSF) is the lifeblood of the athletics program, and exists to enhance the student-athlete experience through philanthropic support from alumni, parents, fans and friends. A gift through the Sports Foundation makes an immediate impact on today's Brown Bears and helps them to be their best in the classroom, in competition and most importantly in the community. To learn more about supporting the Bears, please click here.
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WATCHUNG - Voters on Tuesday approved both questions on the school district's nearly $16 million referendum to fund improvements to borough schools .Question 1 on the referendum passed by a vote of 584 to 498 and Question 2 passed by a vote of 565 to 507.Voter turnout for the special school election was 20.7% or 1,085 out of a possible 5,244 voters casting a ballot.The total cost for Question 1's projects is $12.8 million with state aid of $4.21 million and a cost of $8.59 million for the district. The pro...
WATCHUNG - Voters on Tuesday approved both questions on the school district's nearly $16 million referendum to fund improvements to borough schools .
Question 1 on the referendum passed by a vote of 584 to 498 and Question 2 passed by a vote of 565 to 507.
Voter turnout for the special school election was 20.7% or 1,085 out of a possible 5,244 voters casting a ballot.
The total cost for Question 1's projects is $12.8 million with state aid of $4.21 million and a cost of $8.59 million for the district. The projects new indoor learning spaces, enhanced security, updated technology infrastructure, ADA compliance, new HVAC and building systems, electrical upgrades, site improvements and roof repairs at both Valley View Middle School and Bayberry Elementary School.
Question 2 projects add an outdoor learning commons and repurposed softball field at Valley View Middle School and air conditioning in both the Bayberry Elementary and Valley View Middle schools' gymnasiums. This question bumps up the total costs by another $2.92 million with $839,622 in state aid and a cost of $2.08 million for taxpayers.
The district serves more than 600 students in pre-K through eighth grade in two schools. Students in grades pre-K to 4 attend Bayberry Elementary School, and students in grades 5 to 8 attend Valley View Middle School. Watchung students attend Watchung Hills Regional High School.
The project would be designed, bid and constructed over a period of approximately three years, school officials said.
More:Bridgewater-Raritan's revised plan calls for major middle school project
With a potential $5 million in state aid to offset principal and interest costs, passage of both ballot questions would prompt a $323 a year increase in property taxes for the average assessed home value of $760,895, according to the school board.
The total cost, with state aid and interest, is $16.73 million, of which borough taxpayers would pay $10.67 million after state aid. The state has deemed 94.5% of the project eligible to receive debt service aid, which means the state will fund approximately 34% of the cost, school officials said.
According to Superintendent George P. Alexis, the referendum is designed to align learning spaces with the district's instructional vision and address important infrastructure needs. It also serves increase the value of property in the municipality
"It includes plans to transform spaces, enhance security, ensure ADA compliance, update technology infrastructure, save energy costs, and improve health and safety by replacing outdated HVAC and building systems," he said. "The community has the opportunity to enhance property values through an investment in its schools and take advantage of state funding through debt service aid, which would reduce the total costs by approximately one third and save taxpayers over $5 million."
email: [email protected]
Cheryl Makin is an award-winning features and education reporter forMyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. Contact: [email protected] or@CherylMakin. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
TAMPA, Fla. – “Hey, Anthony Volpe! When do you think you’ll be in the Bronx this year?’’During a workout on a bright morning, the excited query came not from an inquiring reporter, but from a fan at one of the back fields at Yankees spring training.Volpe smiled politely, gave a sort of shrug, and returned to his baserunning instruction.Being tagged as the Yankees’ best prospect comes with its own special, inescapable March spotlight, generating a ton of breathless attent...
TAMPA, Fla. – “Hey, Anthony Volpe! When do you think you’ll be in the Bronx this year?’’
During a workout on a bright morning, the excited query came not from an inquiring reporter, but from a fan at one of the back fields at Yankees spring training.
Volpe smiled politely, gave a sort of shrug, and returned to his baserunning instruction.
Being tagged as the Yankees’ best prospect comes with its own special, inescapable March spotlight, generating a ton of breathless attention under the Florida sun.
At the center of it all, Volpe’s overall performance so far can be summed up this way: He’s the best shortstop in camp.
“I’m not surprised he’s played well,’’ said Yankees general manager Brian Cashman. “And he’s here for consideration.’’
The question is, how seriously will Volpe be considered for the Opening Day roster, with just 22 games of Triple-A experience?
Speaking on Thursday morning, Cashman said, “It's still a little early to drill down on the competitions’’ in camp, with shortstop being the most intriguing battle.
Oswald Peraza, 22, entered camp as the perceived favorite, because of his one-year developmental edge over Volpe, and because Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s defensive issues led to postseason benchings.
For now, “we’ll let the games just play out,’’ said Cashman, with the formal meetings on roster decisions still down the road.
“When we get a little closer (to Opening Day, March 30), we’re going to have to make some decisions, because ultimately we want to win.’’
That last part is something Yankees captain Aaron Judge emphasized earlier this week.
“My thing has always been, if you’re the best player, it shouldn’t matter your age, you should be up helping the New York Yankees,’’ said Judge, regardless, “if you’re 19 or if you’re 41.’’
Volpe will be 22 on April 28, which is older than Gleyber Torres was when he debuted for the Yankees on April 22, 2018, at age 21 and 130 days.
Earlier in spring training, Yankees manager Aaron Boone spoke about Volpe’s brand of performance, preparation and awareness.
“It’s the energy and the intensity and the effort, the little things that he does that get your attention,’’ Boone said. “You get excited about it.’’
Cautioning that he’s “not a scout,’’ Judge is keenly aware of Volpe’s plus-tools and makeup.
“He checks a lot of boxes defensively, offensively. (He’s a) tough at-bat’’ and “he’s got the speed, which is a bigger factor now in the game.’’
Conventionally, even traditionally, the Yankees might want to see Volpe play at least a month or two at Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
But as Cashman has often stated, the player will declare when he’s ready.
“We’ll factor everything in we need to factor in and we’ll make a call,’’ Cashman said. “It’s not for now, but it’s going to be coming sooner than later.’’
Cashman has declared the Yankees infield “an area of strength,’’ and that surplus could continue to draw interest in the next three weeks.
“If somebody’s looking for help, you shouldn’t be surprised if they’re knocking on our doors,’’ said Cashman, adding that “there’s nothing hot and heavy going on’’ currently on the trade front.
Kiner-Falefa might be the Yankees’ most available big-league infielder, and shedding his $6 million contract for a prospect package would allow some financial flexibility; the Yanks could be in the market for a starter or a left fielder before the trade deadline.
Torres also remains a trade candidate, under team control through 2024 and owed $10 million this season.
“Put it this way, Anthony Volpe is doing everything he needs to do,’’ Cashman said. “Now, we’ll see how ultimately he measures up to everyone else in our internal dialogues.’’
WARREN, NJ — Watchung Hills Regional Board of Education presented its proposed school budget for 2023-24 on Tuesday night which includes a tax increase for some sending town residents.The proposed budget of $46,649,203 for the 2023-24 school year is an increase of 4.49 percent over the 2022-23 budget which was roughly $44 million."It's important that everyone realize that this was a difficult budget. It seems we say that every year, but our number one priority continues to be the student. Continues to be the educatio...
WARREN, NJ — Watchung Hills Regional Board of Education presented its proposed school budget for 2023-24 on Tuesday night which includes a tax increase for some sending town residents.
The proposed budget of $46,649,203 for the 2023-24 school year is an increase of 4.49 percent over the 2022-23 budget which was roughly $44 million.
"It's important that everyone realize that this was a difficult budget. It seems we say that every year, but our number one priority continues to be the student. Continues to be the education of the student. Whether academic or non-academic," said Board Vice President Michael Birnberg. "Although we are very conscious of the budget and cost, we are as conscious, if not more, of making sure the students have the opportunity to succeed and thrive."
For an average homeowner in Warren Township with a home assessed at $824,594, they would see a tax increase of $38.47 per year.
For an average homeowner in Watchung Borough with a home assessed at $802,735, they would see a tax decrease of $20.55 per year.
For an average homeowner in Long Hill Township with a home assessed at $578,714, they would see a tax increase of $52.12 per year.
The Board pointed to a number of factors for the increase in the budget including inflation, a rise in healthcare of 8.74 percent, and salaries and benefits that account for 61 percent of the budget. The district is currently in negotiations for new contracts.
The budget includes a number of costs including:
To help lower the budget, the Board is taking $100,000 from its additional reserve to help pay for the track. Additionally, the late bus will be reduced from 5 days a week to 3 days on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. The number of late buses also is reduced from 5 buses to 3 buses. This will save the district $60,000.
The district also recently was awarded $5,777,532 in state aid this year. It is roughly $2.8 million more than the district received last year.
"The aid will go toward tax relief," said Board President Bob Morrison. "We are using that to ensure we are not going to have to raise additional taxpayer funds to fund the district. This Board from the outset was committed to doing everything that we could to bring that tax impact down because of the impact inflation is having on all of the families in our community."
The preliminary budget will now be submitted to the county office for approval. A public hearing and vote on the final budget is scheduled for April 25.
Watch the full budget presentation below (It begins around the 23:15 mark):
WATCHUNG – The Board of Education has approved the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr as a day off for students and a professional development day for staffers in 2024."The calendar that was revised by the curriculum committee recognizes April 10 as Eid al-Fitr," said Amber Murad, board president. "What happens is that we’re going to have – the suggestion came forward to have it as a professional development day, a day which is closed for students. The original calendar had Oct. 11, a Tuesday, a...
WATCHUNG – The Board of Education has approved the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr as a day off for students and a professional development day for staffers in 2024.
"The calendar that was revised by the curriculum committee recognizes April 10 as Eid al-Fitr," said Amber Murad, board president. "What happens is that we’re going to have – the suggestion came forward to have it as a professional development day, a day which is closed for students. The original calendar had Oct. 11, a Tuesday, as a professional development day and that day is moved to April 10 in next year’s calendar."
At the Jan. 24 school board meeting, several students and parents spoke in favor of the calendar change and welcomed the decision to mark April 10, 2024, as the Eid holiday.
The decision came after nearly two years of lobbying by students and parents.
Last spring, Noora Kuran, a Watchung Hills Regional High School sophomore and co-founder of the high school's Interfaith Coalition, created a survey of student sentiment about having school off on Eid and Diwali.
According to Kuran, more than 98% of the 400 students favored having schools closed on the holidays.
"The win in Watchung and Warren is one small step for Watchung Hills and one giant leap for minorities nationwide," Kuran said. "I hope that what we’ve accomplished inspires others to do the same. It is beautiful to see our hard work for the last few years pay off."
More:What is 'the sacred month' of Ramadan all about? Fasting, Eid al-Fitr and more explained
Diwali also was mentioned as being added to future calendars, but in the 2023-24 calendar year, the holiday falls on Sunday, Nov. 12. In 2024, the holiday takes place on Friday, Nov. 1.
Also at the Jan. 24 meeting, there was a proposal to add three additional holidays − Juneteenth, Lunar Chinese New Year and Orthodox Christian Good Friday − to the calendar and extend the 2023-24 school year by a week from June 14 to June 21. The proposal did not pass but was sent back to the curriculum committee for further study.
A separate survey had asked for thoughts on having schools closed for Eid, Diwali, Juneteenth, Orthodox Christian Good Friday and Lunar Chinese New Year.
"Including Eid in the 2023-2024 calendar is a victory for educational inclusion and for Muslim students who have long advocated for this necessary accommodation," said Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) Outreach Coordinator Zaid Hussein. "We are hopeful that Watchung Region High School will follow suit and give their Muslim students the opportunity to balance their academic obligations with religious duties."
Hussain added that while designating Eid as a professional development day for staff is "a step in the right direction," CAIR-NJ hopes to see the Watchung Board of Education "move in the direction of adopting Eid as a permanent calendar holiday instead in the future."
The Watchung Borough School District serves more than 600 students in pre-K through eighth grade in two schools.
Students in higher grades attend Watchung Hills Regional High School in Warren, which has yet to decide on a separate Eid holiday.
Recently parents, students and local organization leaders asked that Eid be added to the East Brunswick school calendar. Board members said they would investigate the issue. Several community members said they had been asking for the holiday as a day off for students for 10 years.
There are two Eid holidays. The first − Eid al-Fitr − comes after the month-long observance of Ramadan, when observant Muslims pray and fast for 30 days. The second − Eid al-Adha − is celebrated on the 10th day of the 12th Islamic month and is associated with the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
Eid festivities include congregational prayer, often early in the morning, gatherings with family and friends, as well as gifts and entertainment, particularly centered around children.
Because the occurrence of Eid depends on the sighting of the new moon, the exact date can only be determined with certainty the night before.
Almost 30 New Jersey school districts, including Monroe, South Brunswick and West Windsor-Plainsboro, already recognize Eid on their school calendars. There are more than 100 mosques in the state and at 3% − the highest percentage of Muslim residents in the U.S., according to the Pew Research Center.
Typically, celebrating Eid requires that Muslims take at least one day off from school. Attendance in school does not allow the student to fully participate in their religious holiday and conversely, an absence creates stress in the form of missed academic time, schoolwork and sometimes tests to make up.
email: [email protected]
Cheryl Makin is an award-winning features and education reporter forMyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. Contact: [email protected] or@CherylMakin. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
