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 men, 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 men 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 TRT (testosterone replacement therapy), and growth hormone peptides. These therapies for men are effective, safe, and customized to fit your goals, so you can keep loving life as you get older.
TRT, 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 TRT and HRT experts with more than 13 years of experience.
For men, getting older comes with its perks, like living life on their own terms and not having to "sweat the small stuff" day in and day out. At the same time, there are aspects of aging that men dread, like hormonal changes. Yes, you read that right – men, not just women, go through hormonal changes as they age. For men, the biggest change involves a drop in testosterone.
Lower levels of testosterone can wreak havoc on a male's mind and body and when left untreated, can result in symptoms like:
Those symptoms are concerning, but with testosterone replacement therapy and anti-aging medicine, many males improve their quality of life with age. The good news is that TRT and anti-aging meds aren't only reserved for "old guys." In fact, there's no magic age at which men should start thinking about hormone replacement therapy. Everyone's body is different, so if you're experiencing the above conditions in your mid-30s, TRT could be a viable solution when you consult with a doctor.
Testosterone is a crucial hormone for men and plays an important role throughout the male lifespan. Most of a male's testosterone is produced through the testicles. Also called the male sex hormone, testosterone starts playing its part during puberty.
When a male goes through puberty, testosterone helps males develop:
As boys turn to men and men grow older, testosterone levels deplete naturally. Sometimes, events like injuries and chronic health conditions like diabetes can lower testosterone levels. Unfortunately, when a man loses too much T, it results in hypogonadism. When this happens, the testosterone must be replaced, or the male will suffer from symptoms like muscle loss, low libido, and even depression.
TRT is exactly what it sounds like: a treatment option for men that replaces testosterone so that your body regulates hormones properly and restores balance to your life. Also called androgen replacement therapy, TRT alleviates the symptoms that men experience with low T.
Originally lab-synthesized in 1935, testosterone has grown in popularity since it was produced. Today, TRT and other testosterone treatments are among the most popular prescriptions in the U.S.
Without getting too deep into the science, TRT works by giving your body the essential testosterone it needs to function correctly. As the primary androgen for both males and females, testosterone impacts many of the body's natural processes – especially those needed for overall health. For example, men with low T are more prone to serious problems like cardiovascular disease and even type-2 diabetes.
When your body quits making enough testosterone, it causes your health to suffer until a solution is presented. That's where TRT and anti-aging medicine for men can help. TRT helps balance your hormones and replenish your depleted testosterone. With time, your body will begin to heal, and many symptoms like low libido and irritability begin to diminish.
For men, aging is the biggest contributor to lower testosterone levels, though there are other causes like obesity, drug abuse, testicular injuries, and certain prescribed medications. Sometimes, long-term health conditions like AIDS, cirrhosis of the liver, and kidney disease can lower testosterone levels.
When a man's testosterone levels drop significantly, it alters his body's ratio of estrogen and testosterone. Lower testosterone levels cause more abdominal fat, which in turn results in increased aromatase, which converts even more testosterone into estrogen.
If you're concerned that you might have low T, you're not alone. Millions of men in the U.S. feel the same way. The best way to find out if your testosterone is low is to get your levels tested.
For sustainable testosterone replacement therapy benefits, you must consult with hormone doctors and experts like those you can find at Global Life Rejuvenation. That way, you can find the root cause of your hormone problems, and our team can craft a personalized HRT plan tailored to your needs.
Are you used to blasting through a productive day and accomplishing all your daily goals? Do you find yourself losing muscle mass and the craving to be intimate with your partner? Does your partner complain about how irritable you have become? If you're not usually a curmudgeon, your body could be giving you a sign. It could be time to speak with a doctor about TRT and anti-aging medicine for men in Whitfield, FL.
If you're experiencing any of the following symptoms, you might be battling against low testosterone:
One of the most common reasons that men choose TRT is because they have lost that "spark" with their partner. It's not easy for a man to hear that they're not performing like they used to. Intimacy is a powerful part of any relationship. When a once-healthy sex life dwindles, it can cause serious relationship issues.
The good news is that low libido doesn't have to be a permanent problem. TRT and anti-aging medicines help revert hormone levels back into their normal range. When this happens, many men have a more enjoyable life full of intimacy and sex drive.
Weak erections – it's an uncomfortable subject for many men in the U.S. to talk about. It's even worse to experience first-hand. You're in the midst of an intimate moment, and you can't do your part. Despite being perfectly normal, many men put blame and shame upon themselves when they can't achieve an erection. And while the inability to perform sexually can be caused by poor diet, obesity, and chronic health conditions, low testosterone is often a contributing factor.
Fortunately, weak erections are a treatable condition. The best way to regain your confidence and ability in bed is to speak with your doctor. Once any underlying conditions are discovered, options like TRT may be the best course of treatment.
Hair Loss
Do you find it harder and harder to work out and lift weights in the gym? Are you having problems lifting heavy items that you once had no problem lifting?
Recent studies show that when men are inactive, they lose .5% of muscle strength every year, from ages 25 to 60. After 60, muscle loss doubles every decade. While some muscle loss is common as men age, a significant portion can be tied to low testosterone levels. When a man's T levels drop, so does his muscle mass.
Testosterone is a much-needed component used in gaining and retaining muscle mass. That's why many doctors prescribe TRT Whitfield, FL, for men having problems with strength. One recent study found that men who increased their testosterone levels using TRT gained as much as 2.5 pounds of muscle mass.
Whether your gym performance is lacking, or you can't lift heavy items like you used to, don't blame it all on age. You could be suffering from hypogonadism.
If you're like millions of other men in their late 20s and 30s, dealing with hair loss is a reality you don't want to face. Closely related to testosterone decline and hormone imbalances, hair loss is distressing for many men. This common symptom is often related to a derivative of testosterone called DHT. Excess amounts of DHT cause hair follicles to halt their production, causing follicles to die.
Because hair located at the front and crown is more sensitive to DHT, it grows slower than other follicles and eventually stops growing permanently. Thankfully, TRT and anti-aging treatments for men in Whitfield, FL, is now available to address hair loss for good.
While it's true that you can't change your genes, you can change the effects of low testosterone on your body. Whether you're suffering from thinning hair or hair loss across your entire head, TRT and other hormone therapies can stop hair loss and even reverse the process.
Also called "man boobs," gynecomastia is essentially the enlargement of male breast tissue. This increase in fatty tissue is often caused by hormonal imbalances and an increase in estrogen. For men, estrogen levels are elevated during andropause. Also called male menopause, andropause usually happens because of a lack of testosterone.
If you're a man between the ages of 40 and 55, and you're embarrassed by having large breasts, don't lose hope. TRT is a safe, effective way to eliminate the underlying cause of gynecomastia without invasive surgery. With a custom HRT and fitness program, you can bring your testosterone and estrogen levels back to normal before you know it.
Decreased energy was once considered a normal part of aging. Today, many doctors know better. Advances in technology and our understanding of testosterone show that low T and lack of energy often go hand-in-hand.
If you're struggling to enjoy activities like playing with your kids or hiking in a park due to lack of energy, it could be a sign of low T. Of course, getting tired is perfectly normal for any man. But if you're suffering from continual fatigue, a lack of enjoyment, or a decrease in energy, it might be time to speak with a doctor.
Whether you're having a tough time getting through your day or can't finish activities you used to love, TRT could help.
A study from 2011 showed that men who lose a week's worth of sleep can experience lowered testosterone levels – as much as 15%, according to experts. Additional research into the topic found almost 15% of workers only get five hours of sleep (or less) per night. These findings suggest that sleep loss negatively impacts T levels and wellbeing.
The bottom line is that men who have trouble sleeping often suffer from lower testosterone levels as a result. If you find yourself exhausted at the end of the day but toss and turn all night long, you might have low T.
TRT and anti-aging medicines can restore your T levels back to normal, which can help you sleep better with proper diet and exercise.
You're feeling down about everything, and there's no solid explanation for why you're in such a crummy mood. Your daily life is great and full of success, but you can't help but feel unexcited and unmotivated. If you're experiencing symptoms like these, you may be depressed – and it may stem from low testosterone.
A research study from Munich found that men with depression also commonly had low testosterone levels. This same study also found that depressed men had cortisol levels that were 67% higher than other men. Because higher cortisol levels lead to lower levels of testosterone, the chances of severe depression increase.
Depression is a very real disorder and should always be diagnosed and treated by your doctor. One treatment option gaining in popularity is TRT for depression. Studies show that when TRT is used to restore hormone levels, men enjoy a lighter, more improved mood. That's great news for men who are depressed and have not had success with other treatments like anti-depression medicines, which alter the brain's chemistry.
Ask anyone over the age of 50 how their memory is, and they'll tell you it wasn't what it used to be. Memory loss and lack of concentration occur naturally as we age – these aren't always signs of dementia or Alzheimer's.
However, what many men consider a symptom of age may be caused by low testosterone. A 2006 study found that males with low T levels performed poorly on cognitive skill tests. These results suggest that low testosterone may play a part in reducing cognitive ability. If you're having trouble staying on task or remembering what your schedule is for the day, it might not be due to your age. It might be because your testosterone levels are too low. If you're having trouble concentrating or remembering daily tasks, it could be time to talk to your doctor.
Why? The aforementioned study found that participating men experienced improved cognitive skills when using TRT.
Even though today's society is more inclusive of large people, few adults enjoy gaining weight as they age. Despite their best efforts, many men just can't shed the extra pounds around their midsections, increasing their risk of heart disease and cancer.
Often, male weight gain is caused by hormone imbalances that slow the metabolism and cause weight to pile on. This phase of life is called andropause and happens when there is a lack of testosterone in the body. Couple that with high cortisol levels, and you've got a recipe for flabby guts and double chins.
Fortunately, TRT treatments and physician-led weight loss programs can correct hormone imbalances and lead to healthy weight loss for men.
The benefits of hormone replacement therapy for men are numerous. TRT not only grants relief from low-T symptoms but can help give protection against age-related diseases. Additionally, doctors now recognize male testosterone as an important role in alleviating depression.
Some of the most exciting benefits of TRT can include:
Because men do not go through a specific period of hormonal changes like women do (called menopause), many doctors refer to "male menopause" as androgen decline. This is just another term for low testosterone, but like female menopause, the symptoms can be serious and affect your quality of life.
The best way to fight back against male menopause is with male HRT treatment from Global Life Rejuvenation. We provide the following HRT treatments for men:
Our treatment options are personalized for your body and are available as creams, gels, injectables, and implantable pellets. To find out if testosterone replacement therapy is safe for you, contact Global Life Rejuvenation today to schedule your comprehensive testing and anti-aging treatment consultation.
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.
Benefits of Sermorelin include:
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 is suitable for both men and women. It provides significant short and long-term benefits in age management therapies, boosting patients' overall health, wellbeing, and outlook on life. When growth hormone is produced by the pituitary gland using Ipamorelin, clients report amazing benefits.
Some of those benefits include:
Whether you are considering our TRT services, HRT for women, or our growth hormone peptide services, we are here to help. The first step to turning back the hand of time starts by contacting Global Life Rejuvenation.
Our friendly, knowledgeable TRT and 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
“Whitfield Lovell: Passages” at the Boca Raton (FL) Museum of Art opens with Lovell’s multimedia experience ...
“Whitfield Lovell: Passages” at the Boca Raton (FL) Museum of Art opens with Lovell’s multimedia experience Deep River. It honors the perilous journey enslaved people took crossing the Tennessee River seeking asylum at “Camp Contraband” in Chattanooga, TN during the Civil War. The installation includes a haunting rendition of the traditional spiritual “Deep River” with its lamentation, “I want to cross over into campground,” sung by a mezzo soprano. Also heard are the sounds of waves, cicadas, crickets and birds.
A large mound of mulch in the middle of the gallery replicates rich soil. Guests encounter the harmony of ethereal sounds and earthy aromas before their eyes have adjusted to the dim lighting and Deep River’s powerful visual elements.
Three giant video projections of a river filmed at night wash onto the museum’s walls all around. Surrounding and embedded within the mound are utensils, pans, lamps, ropes, boots, weapons, a trumpet, a bible and other objects that would have helped the freedom seekers survive. Fifty-six large wooden discs encircle the mulch pile, each with a handmade drawing of a person whose identity has been lost to time.
“I see the so-called ‘anonymous’ people in these vintage photographs as being stand-ins for the ancestors I will never know,” Whitfield Lovell said.
He uses images of Black people from Emancipation through Civil Rights representing how freedom has been–and is–continually struggled for.
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“Passages” is a feast for the senses. It is smelt and heard as much as it is seen. The exhibition is tactile, guests feel it, all the wood and materials–playing cards, coins, dishes, clothing, suitcases–and surfaces. It exists in three dimensions, surrounding you. Immersive in a true sense of the word, exposing the overuse of that term as a catch-all cliché in contemporary art.
The exhibition invites museumgoers to walk through another room-filling immersive installation entitled Visitation: The Richmond Project. Depicted here, the nation’s first Black entrepreneurial community settled in Jackson Ward, Richmond, Virginia, in the 1860s just blocks from the state capitol.
The largest tableau in the Visitation, titled Our Best, measures twenty-two feet wide and features life-sized charcoal drawings of people whose images are based on historic photographs Lovell found in museums near Richmond. Dressed stylishly in turn-of-the-twentieth-century clothing, Lovell’s figures appear to hover just above the time-worn surfaces of the repurposed wood they’re painted on. They look successful, confident, proud.
Approaching Visitation, visitors hear a woman’s voice reciting the names of every resident who lived in this community. Among those names, Maggie L. Walker. She became the country’s first Black woman bank president upon founding the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank in 1903. Notice the box of pennies. Another name: Sarah Garland Jones. She was the first Black woman physician in the United States.
The names a reminder that these were real people. A focus on lost African American history.
“At one time this person walked the earth, spoke and lived and dreamed, just as we are doing today,” Lovell said. “I look for the humanity that I can find from each of the nameless images I choose to work from.”
“Passages” marks the first time these two installations are being presented together in a museum-wide exhibition of this size and scope.
“There is a drama to the works which call to mind a time past and of people long gone,” Irvin Lippman, Executive Director of the Boca Raton Museum of Art, told Forbes.com. “It is this notion of their passage that is given credence, and the artist has provided an opportunity for us to witness this journey.”
Over 350 objects are on display in Deep River and Visitation alone, every item meticulously inventoried, labelled and packed into crates by the exhibition’s organizer, American Federation of Arts, and Lovell’s gallery, DC Moore, to support the show’s national tour. Boca Raton Museum of Art staff used a detailed diagram to install the artworks over 7,000-square-feet of exhibition space and Lovell was on hand to supervise and approve final placement.
Above all else, the artist’s interest in wood comes through. Wooden chairs, wooden phonographs, wooden pianos and wagon wheels all feature in the displays. Portraits on wood paneling. On wood planks. On wooden disks. Lovell uses wood like most painters do canvas.
“I’m working with historical images, and the wood itself has history already,” Lovell has said. “The wood comes from old homes, where old souls once inhabited–so I think allowing the wood to have character is very important.”
Each realistic portrait from throughout Lovell’s career takes inspiration from antique photos found in flea markets, from discarded family albums, mug shots and archives. The artist renders each portrait directly onto old wooden boards with knots, holes, nails, traces of paint and other signs of age. The striations of the wood often come through onto the subject’s face. Lovell then adds found household objects or other mementos onto the panel itself or on the floor near each portrait.
“His maternal grandparents had a lot of wood furniture in their home and were interested in well-crafted wood products. It as evocative material with a lot of history,” Lippman explains of the artist’s interest in wood. “He started working on found wood first when he was a participant of Project Row Houses in Texas. He found charcoal on wood the perfect medium because charcoal is burnt wood.”
The meticulously physical back-and-forth process is how the artist honors the person’s memory and existence, applying the charcoal, rubbing it with his fingers to achieve the right tone, then erasing some to create highlights.
“Whitfield Lovell: Passages,” debuted at the Boca Raton Museum of Art on February 15 and will remain on view there through May 21, 2023, before embarking on a national tour for the next two years. A handsome catalogue accompanies the exhibition.
Bottom LineKey takeaway: Chasten Whitfield started Chastenation, a nonprofit, when she was just 16 years old to grant an opportunity to go fishing for differently abled people. Now it's grown to a TV show. Core challenge: Bringing in donations to continue the fishing charters, as producing a TV has proven to be expensive. What's next: Whitfield has a number of goals on her checklist with the ultimate one being to make running the nonprofit a full-time job. ...
After getting her driver's license in 2016, Chasten Whitfield drove a few friends out to a fishing camp on Anna Maria City Pier. That’s where she met Easton, a 4-year-old with spina bifida, a condition that affects the spine.
Every time Easton caught a fish that day, he would do a doughnut in his wheelchair and exclaim he had caught a fish. By the end of the day, Whitfield was so caught up in his joy that she asked his mom to take him fishing in a boat.
“I blame it all on Easton now,” says Whitfield, now 23. “That’s how I started taking the kids fishing.”
Whitfield says she has since taken 70 to 80 differently abled people as well as those who have been bullied on fishing charters. She does that through her nonprofit, Bradenton-based Chastenation, which has been garnering regional attention.
To fuel the nonprofit's growth Whitfield — who maintains a day-job as an associate producer at Monster Jam, a Feld Entertainment motorsports competition, in Palmetto — has dipped into her entrepreneurial side. She has a strong social media presence, especially on Instagram and YouTube. She also has her own TV show that has led to an even bigger goal: to be the first fishing show on Netflix.
Her TV show, "Their Life my Lens with Chasten Whitfield," debuted in 2021. She set a five-year goal as a freshman at the Savannah College of Art and Design to pursue a degree in TV and film. Last year, her senior year, she was given the opportunity to film a pilot show and present it to Sportsman Channel.
“It worked,” she says. “Now I’m on season two.”
The show is even expanding, going on Waypoint TV and Destination America. Each episode consists of Whitfield taking someone out to fish until lunch and then they do an interview.
After wrapping up filming for season two, Whitfield hopes to expand Chastenation across the U.S.
Every charter is different, but Whitfield blocks off her entire day for a trip. Some of the people she takes out will be done after catching a fish or two. Others will fish until it’s time to go home.
“This is their day,” she says. “I’m just the boat Uber driver. I’m their chauffeur for the day.”
To fill the time for those who don’t like to fish nonstop, Whitfield takes them swimming or they’ll look for dolphins. Some just want to drive the boat around.
Whitfield grew up on the water, living on a canal, but she didn’t become serious about fishing until she was 11 or 12.
“Now, I like seeing the reaction of the kid or person that I take fishing,” she says. “Seeing their actual reaction first hand is just amazing and worth everything right there.”
Her nonprofit has grown beyond the charters, too.
Following a trip to Texas, she had a person reach out about a neighbor with cerebral palsy in Dallas. The mom was hopeful Whitfield could take the child fishing, but Whitfield knew nothing about the fishing laws in Texas. “I was just there to watch a rodeo,” she says.
Still Whitfield did as much as she could, using her source of sponsors to find a charter captain in Texas to connect with the person. The schedules didn’t line up, so unfortunately, the child still hasn’t been taken fishing. But it hasn’t fallen off Whitfield’s to-do list, and she notes that she dreams of the day she’ll be able to call that mom to set up a charter. In the meantime, she’s setting realistic goals.
“I obviously can’t take every kid in the world fishing, so my goal is to have a bunch of different captains in different states help me do that through Chastenation,” she says.
To help with funding more charters, as the nonprofit is reliant on donations, Whitfield started the Chastenation Gala last year, raising between $8,000 to $9,000 at the event, held on Bradenton Beach. After she’s wrapped up production of the show’s second season, she’ll get started on planning the next gala. The goal this year is to raise $10,000 to $12,000.
“If we raise $10,000, that’s 100 kids we can take fishing,” she says, noting it takes about $150 to $200 to fuel up the boat.
With the TV show just breaking even (Whitfield says it costs an “uncomfortable amount” to produce), and the nonprofit reliant on donations, her ultimate goal is to make Chastenation her full-time job.
And word about Chastenation is getting out, with her social media following growing to nearly 6,000 followers. Last year, she took out 20-30 people on a charter. This year, she’s hoping to increase that to over 50 with a goal of booking a charter once a week.
Amanda Postma is a business reporter covering Sarasota and Manatee counties. After graduating from the University of Missouri School of Journalism in 2018, Amanda was a reporter for a small-town newspaper in Missouri before becoming a marketing associate for a career resource startup in St. Louis.
Kennesaw State’s Amani Johnson and Jah’Che Whitfield both earned ASUN Conference recognition Friday, with the Owls having dual all-conference for the first time in their Division I history.Johnson, a graduate senior from North Versailles, Pennsylvania, and one of the most accomplished Owls in team history, was named third-team all-conference and also all-academic.Johnson, a three-time all-conference pick and four-time all-academic selection, is averaging 10.1 points, 4.8 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game...
Kennesaw State’s Amani Johnson and Jah’Che Whitfield both earned ASUN Conference recognition Friday, with the Owls having dual all-conference for the first time in their Division I history.
Johnson, a graduate senior from North Versailles, Pennsylvania, and one of the most accomplished Owls in team history, was named third-team all-conference and also all-academic.
Johnson, a three-time all-conference pick and four-time all-academic selection, is averaging 10.1 points, 4.8 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game directing the offense from the point guard spot. She also boasts a 4.0 grade-point average as she pursues her master’s in business administration.
Johnson leads the ASUN in minutes played (36.8) and is in the top five of the conference in assist/turnover ratio (1.93), assists (139) and assists per game (4.8). She finished the regular season with a Division I-era team-record 139 assists and is the all-time Division I leader in scoring (1,644), assists (624), field goals made (603), field goals attempted (1,615), minutes played (5,125) and steals (252).
Whitfield, a graduate senior from Sumter, South Carolina, was voted second-team all-conference after being one of Kennesaw State’s most consistent and productive players, scoring in double-figures in 20 of her last 23 contests and all but three conference games.
Whitfield leads the Owls in scoring (14.2), rebounding (5.6), defensive rebounds (128), made field goals (150), field goals attempted (354), free throws made (90), steals (45) and free throws attempted (131). She ranks sixth in the ASUN in points per game, 15th in rebounds (5.6) and has scored more than 1,400 points in her career at Winthrop and Kennesaw State.
Whitfield has led the team in scoring 13 times this season and has scored over 20 points on four occasions.
Johnson and Whitfield have been integral pieces to Kennesaw State’s resurgence this season. The Owls (14-15, 10-8) posted the most overall wins in nearly 10 years and their first 10-win season in conference play since 2008-09.
In addition to that milestone, the Owls finished with a 9-4 mark at home this season, the most wins by Kennesaw State at the KSU Convocation Center since 2015-16.
Seventh-seeded Kennesaw State will face eighth-seeded Jacksonville State in the opening round of the ASUN tournament Saturday at 4 p.m. in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Winning the conference’s top awards were Florida Gulf Coast’s Tishara Morehouse (Player of the Year) and Karl Smesko (Coach of the Year), North Alabama’s Skyler Gill (Defensive Player of the Year), Eastern Kentucky’s Antwainette Walker (Newcomer of the Year), Austin Peay’s Shamarre Hale (Sixth Player of the Year) and Bellarmine’s Gracie Merkle (Freshman of the Year).
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — New numbers show only about half of Palm Beach County kindergarten students were considered "kindergarten-ready" when they entered elementary school this year.It comes as parents of Florida 4-year-olds are getting their kids enrolled in voluntary pre-kindergarten, or VPK, for next school year.SPECIAL COVERAGE: EducationAt Kiddie Haven Preschool, west of Lake Worth Beach, voluntary pre-kinderg...
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — New numbers show only about half of Palm Beach County kindergarten students were considered "kindergarten-ready" when they entered elementary school this year.
It comes as parents of Florida 4-year-olds are getting their kids enrolled in voluntary pre-kindergarten, or VPK, for next school year.
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At Kiddie Haven Preschool, west of Lake Worth Beach, voluntary pre-kindergarten is about more than letters and numbers.
"It's also about social skills, meaningful relationships, and interactions," preschool director Odalys Gonzalez said. "They are exposed to the diversity that is around them, and they get to see the world through a different perspective."
Gonzalez said the VPK experience is crucial to prepare little minds for what's to come.
"The environment we create promotes self esteem, curiosity. The children overcome challenges every day," Gonzalez said.
The children at Kiddie Haven Preschool follow a schedule to get them ready for that kindergarten experience. VPK covers three hours of the day, but parents can enroll them for longer.
"We would like the state to consider doing a full day of VPK. And personally, I would like to start seeing them fund 3-year-olds as well," said Palm Beach County School Board member Erica Whitfield.
Whitfield wants more funding to expand early childhood education opportunities.
Records show only about 50% of kindergarteners in the School District of Palm Beach County were considered "kindergarten-ready," based on testing in the beginning of the school year.
Some schools, according to Whitfield, were below 20%.
"That is where we see the biggest gap in our system is kids who participated in pre-K and those that didn’t and how different they are when they come in and continue to be different," Whitfield said. "We're always playing catch-up with those kids who didn’t have those opportunities."
Whitfield added the school district is working to strengthen relationships between early childhood education providers and the elementary schools nearby.
The Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County is there to help parents find a VPK center that's right for them and go through the enrollment process.
The coalition encourages parents of 4-year-olds to sign up for VPK now, as spots fill up quickly for next year.
Erin Gallagher, the division vice president for communications and planning at the Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County, said they have a team ready to talk to parents about what they are looking for in quality child care.
Gallagher said VPK enrollment numbers have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels at more than 12,000 students a year.
"The transition to kindergarten is a big step, not just for our 4-year-olds, but for their families and caregivers. So we're thrilled our numbers are back to where they normally are," Gallagher said. "We know there is still a group of children who don't attend VPK for a variety of reasons every year, and we certainly understand that. We'd love to see that number continue to climb, so we're encouraging all families to consider that for next year for their child."
To obtain a VPK voucher to enroll your child, you can visit the Early Learning Coalition's website by clicking here.
You can call the Early Learning Coalition's Child Care Resource and Referral Center at 561-514-3300 to speak to someone who can help find the child care center that is right for you and your family.
Current enrollment is for children who will turn 4 years old by September 1, 2023. You will need proof of your child's age and residency to obtain a voucher online from the ELC website.
For more information about what your child is expected to know, both socially and academically, when heading into kindergarten, click here.
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Some Palm Beach County high schools will be selected to test out metal detectors in the next couple of months while more school districts are considering them as well.PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — There's never been more change in security at public schools in Florida than in the last five years.The tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School moved security to the top of the list for school districts, and it's still the No. 1 priority.Some Palm Beach County high schools will be selected to ...
Some Palm Beach County high schools will be selected to test out metal detectors in the next couple of months while more school districts are considering them as well.
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — There's never been more change in security at public schools in Florida than in the last five years.
The tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School moved security to the top of the list for school districts, and it's still the No. 1 priority.
Some Palm Beach County high schools will be selected to test out metal detectors in the next couple of months while more school districts are considering them as well.
The sight of metal detectors or metal detector wands at the entrances of schools can seem overwhelming. But there's no education without safety and security, and school districts are trying to balance it all.
However, these security measures might be what they need for peace of mind.
"If the school has it, the parents don't have to worry about it," parent Yvette Paul said.
In a few months, Paul's son graduates from Forest Hill Community High School.
"He said he wants to go to college," Paul said. "I hope so."
She thinks often about the parents of the Parkland school shooting student victims. It's on the mind of school board members too.
"That really impacted me a lot," Palm Beach County School Board member Erica Whitfield said. "I have watched the school system grow and change over these past five years."
Whitfield said the pilot program for metal detectors will start at four high schools in the next 60 days or so.
"We've had students bring Tasers onto campus just for safety, and then they end up being expelled," Whitfield said. "We expelled a few kids last week that brought those kinds of weapons onto campus."
Schools in Miami-Dade and Broward counties currently have random metal detection systems.
Martin County schools do not use metal detectors or wands.
St. Lucie County schools have metal detectors at discipline-based alternative schools, but there are no plans for district-wide use.
Schools in Indian River and Okeechobee County do not use metal detectors or wands.
Greg Yezak's son is also set to graduate in Palm Beach County this year, and he's all in favor of metal detectors at schools.
"They have security at the school always anyway so this is just another tier," Yezak said. "It's added safety for everyone in my opinion."
Whitfield said the district will see how the pilot program goes before more discussions take place about implementing them at all high schools.
"For me at least, the jury is still out," Whitfield said. "I believe in anything that we can do for the safety and security for our students."
Below are the full statements from the St. Lucie and Martin County school districts regarding metal detectors:
MARTIN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
"We continue to monitor and consider all recommendations made by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Commission and our law enforcement partners to determine how they might enhance comprehensive safety plan."
ST. LUCIE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
"St. Lucie Public Schools utilizes metal detectors at our discipline based alternative school and at certain large scale public events. There are no plans for district-wide implementation of metal detectors at this time. The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority and we continue to implement proven security measures and best practices for the safety of everyone."
Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
