Bits and Pieces

http://members.aol.com/nancyds/shaoyang.html

The link above is written by a woman who adopted a girl from the Shaoyang Social Welfare Institute, which is where Jocelyn is waiting for us. It was nice to find more pictures of the orphanage where our daughter has been living, and to read some descriptions.

One paragraph describes the preschool that was set up by the Half The Sky Foundation (http://www.halfthesky.org). This organization sets up preschools and other programs at orphanages, helping to care for the children and making sure they get an early education.

I recently discovered that Half The Sky has a program at Jocelyn's orphanage and she is currently in the Little Sisters Preschool (see description below). Here are more pictures of the orphanage from their website: http://www.halfthesky.org/work/sites/shaoyang.php

In the Little Sisters Preschools, Half the Sky-trained teachers use a unique and progressive curriculum that blends principles of the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education with contemporary Chinese teaching methods. The program is designed not only to prepare the children (2-7years) to succeed in Chinese schools, but also to help develop the “whole child”, to help her attain the positive sense of self so often missing in institutionalized children.
Special areas are designed for art projects, music, reading, imaginary play and developing motor skills. Teachers build on the approach fostered in the infant nurture program by getting to know each child’s individual interests and developing curriculum and projects based on those interests. All Half the Sky preschool teachers are university or normal school (teacher’s college)-educated in China and also undergo Half the Sky training which includes an emphasis on documenting each child’s progress – creating a personal history and permanent record for children who do not have a family to mark their milestones and achievements.

I also found out from reading their site that after we return home with Jocelyn we can contact Half The Sky and request information about her. We will receive any pictures they have of her and the developmental report that they put together for each child. It won't replace the years we weren't with her, but every piece that we can put together will be wonderful, and will help her in the future learn more about her life in China.