An afterschoool program to nurture high-level critical thinking skills and a spirit of inquiry in elementary students.
Venture into a New World! Real Inquiry-based Activities
CGK Preschool, well-respected as a center for global education in childcare and early childhood education, pursues deeper learning to raise children's Self-expression, Critical Thinking Skills, and a Spirit of Inquiry. We provide a place for people to feel close to the world, to look at the world as a global citizen, and to envision a future where everyone can be happy.
Features of CGK Afterschool
Point 01
Raising Real Global Kids
Focusing not only on English ability, but also on raising “Real Global Kids” with Self-expression, Critical Thinking Skills and a Spirit of Inquiry. Our programs are made for the children to express themselves, to research their curiosities and to think deeply.
Point 02
Not a Place to Study English
The children already have good English language skills so instead of spending a lot of time studying English, we emphasize learning in English. We seek to find enjoyment through the learning of different topics in the English language, instead of simply enjoying English. As a general rule, the classroom is an English-only environment.
Point 03
English Ability will be Checked
In order to further develop “global education” at CGK Preschool where we nurture Self-expression, Critical Thinking Skills and a Spirit of Inquiry, part of our enrollment selection process will be to check the student’s English ability. Our curriculum is designed without language barriers.
Point 04
A Fun and Lively Place to Enjoy Advanced Learning
The students experience learning on a daily basis that stimulates critical thinking skills and a spirit of inquiry, based on communication skills (self-expression) essential for active learning. Enjoy learning and get excited about the new world ahead.
Real Global Kids with Self-expression, Critical Thinking Skills and a Spirit of Inquiry
The Ability to Express Yourself to Others
Rather than surface language skills, we place importance on the ability to understand other people's ideas, conveying their own ideas and engaging in dialogue.
They will also give presentations and hold discussions in order to them develop necessary English skills.
The Ability to Create without Convention
Through the understanding and tolerance of diversity and the use of critical thinking skills to think outside the box, children can develop the ability to find new paths on their own, while still being conscious of the need for both cooperation and independence.
Endless Motivation Toward the Future
Through various activities that will broaden their horizons, we'll nurture interest in a new world and open up endless possibilities for the future. We value excitement towards learning and wanting to know more.
School Information
Name
CGK International School – Afterschool
Location
2-25-2 Minaminakadori, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa (Greater Tokyo) 231-0006, Japan
Number of Students per Day
Around 15 per class (3 classes per day)
Age
Elementary school 1st - 6th grade *Advanced course is for 5th grade to 9th grade students.
School Days
Monday to Friday
School Hours
2:30-7:00pm *6:00-7:30pm for Advanced course
School Holidays
Saturday, Sunday, National holidays, Golden Week (1 week), Obon holidays (a few days), New Year holidays (1 week)
Kannai Campus Layout
Access
4-minute walk from Bashamichi Station (馬車道駅) on the Minatomirai Line (directly to/from the Tōyoko Line and Fukutoshin Line)
5-minute walk from Nihon-ōdōri Station (日本大通り駅) on the Minatomirai Line (directly to/from the Tōyoko Line and Fukutoshin Line)
5-minute walk from Kannai Station (関内駅) on the Yokohama Municipal Subway Blue Line
7-minute walk from Kannai Station (関内駅) on the JR Keihin-Tōhoku Line
School Bus Pick up
We provide a pick-up service from eligible elementary schools ("After-school Kids Clubs"), etc.
We will pick up students at the end of elementary school's 5th period. Any other time of day the students will need to make their own way to CGK Afterschool.
Please note pick-up times vary and we do not provide drop-off service to your home.
Eligible facilities
Some public elementary schools in Naka, Nishi and Minami wards (please inquire for details)
This is a service that allows children over 4 years old to use a taxi alone. This service is available at no extra charge with advance registration. The taxi company in charge differs depending on the area you live in, so please refer to the following and contact them directly.
Please be sure to contact CGK Afterschool before using the taxi service for childcare.
🏝️CGK Summer School 2025 🌺 Now Open for Registration!!! 24 exciting days where “I want to try it!” becomes “I did it!” Our popular one-day, stand-alone inquiry-based program is back!
From art and science experiments to off-campus excursions, students will engage in hands-on activities that spark their curiosity and expand their interests.
■ Dates: Friday, July 18 – Wednesday, August 27 ■ Theme: Learning through Play = Inquiry-Based Program (PBL: Project-Based Learning) ■ Format: Flexible one-day programs — join on the days of your choice ■ Fee: From ¥8,800 per day (tax included) ■ Designed for: Elementary school students with prior English learning experience Siblings and friends are welcome to join, too!
Perfect for families looking to coordinate with summer holiday plans. ▼ Program details & registration: https://cgkis.com/as/seasonal-school/
This week, CGK will host two special study abroad info sessions with guest speakers! Canada, featuring a spotlight on an IB (International Baccalaureate) school ✨ 2. New Zealand—the only school where CGK students can experience a solo study abroad at a local NZ primary school. A highlight video from this spring’s visit will also be shared 🎥 This summer, CGK students are once again getting ready to explore the world!🌎
In preparation for the new school year, we held CGK`s first "Welcome Play Day". 🌸🙌
This event was open to all families from Preschool to Middle School, and CGK simply invited everyone to "come and play together". Participating families interacted and made new connections.
The new school year is about to begin. We hope that not only the children but also the parents will enjoy new encounters and have a fulfilling experience at CGK.✨
On March 15th, we celebrated the graduation of the sixth CGK graduating class with 23 students reaching this milestone.🎖
The families of this year`s graduates are a close group. They regularly held get-togethers, "mum`s meet-ups", or "dad`s meet-ups". Following this year`s graduation ceremony, they graciously hosted a thank-you party for the CGK teachers.
The party was a heartwarming and joyous occasion filled with memorable moments, including a nostalgic slideshow, a delightful musical performance from the children, and fun-filled quizzes and bingo based around CGK. There were lots of laughter and tears creating truly precious memories together 🌸
To all the wonderful families of this year`s graduating class, we are deeply grateful for your thoughtful celebration. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Our spring break study abroad program has officially kicked off! ✈️🌸✨This year, 8 students from CGK have embarked on an exciting adventure to New Zealand.
・Parent-Child Study Abroad - 6 students from 5 families ・Solo Study Abroad - 2 Students
Everyone has arrived safely and their school life has begun!
Here`s a heartwarming comment from a parent:
“On the first day, my child seemed a bit nervous going to school, but their buddy showed them the ropes, they had lunch together and played together afterwards. My child said they had a great time! When my child fell, their friends kindly took them to the office, which was very appreciated.”
For ALL CGK families! We are excited to invite you to the CGK Study Abroad Casual Talk🙌 Whether you’re just curious, considering which country, or thinking of studying abroad in the future, there’s something for everyone to learn!
Spring School enrollment is open!🥳 14 days of fun with field trips, art, experiments, and more! Don`t miss your chance to make this spring break one to remember! For more information, visit our website or LINE account. Check the link in bio.
Last week, we hosted our monthly CGK Awards ceremony!✨
This special event celebrates students who embody the values and attributes of the IB Learner Profile, recognizing their achievements in areas like communicating, caring, and being principled.
Our CGK Preschool friends came together to cheer each other on, showcasing a strong sense of community and mutual support. It was heartwarming to see the joy and pride on everyone’s faces as we celebrated their growth and accomplishments! We are so proud of our students for striving to be the best versions of themselves each day.🥳
On Saturday the 18th of January, CGK Outdoors Club climbed Mount Omaru - the highest mountain in Yokohama City! ⛰🙌
The group started the hike at Kanazawa Zoo before climbing lots of stairs and crossing deep into the forest. There, we wound our way along the trails before climbing our way to the summit!
At the top of the mountain we enjoyed the beautiful well-earned views and a delicious lunch. After eating, we made our way back down the mountain, over a small pond and back to the zoo!
All-in-all it was a challenging but very fun hike and one everyone agreed we should try again in the future!
This week CGK ES students have Kakizome. It is an event of Japanese traditional calligraphy as a new year. Each student had high concentration and created dynamic works. You can see the works on each floor. All CGK ES students had a great start to a wonderful 2025!✨
Today was the last day of the second term of preschool!🥳 Santa was a special guest at the winter party. Each class presented Santa with their most curious questions such as:
- Why do you like milk and cookies?🥛🍪 - Why did you come to CGK? - What are the names of all your reindeer?
Then everyone opened their presents. Thank you to Santa Claus and CGK Families for all of your thoughtful gifts.
We loved seeing your big smiles on the last day of school! See you all in the New Year!🍀
Today, Elementary School students enjoyed their winter party.🥳✨ We all danced together and watched a movie with popcorn!
At the end of the party, we opened presents from Santa! 🎁 We received many thoughtful gifts and we would like to take this opportunity to say thank you.
Students were very lively while dancing and had fun at the photoshoot with the Sky class (5-years-old).They will be new to Grade 1 in spring!
We look forward to seeing your smiles again in term 3!🍀
✨ We held our Student Led Conferences (SLC) on December 8th.
Families signed up to come to school for a 45 minute window where each student could share their classroom and activities with them. SLCs are conducted in the language of the family so that children can freely share their joys, triumphs, and learning.
SLCs are an important part of students taking ownership of their learning journey. It allows them and their families to reflect on what the student has done well, how they`ve grown, and areas that can still be improved.
Each classroom is set up according to the choices of the students, so no two classrooms look alike on SLC day. Students can share their physical and/or digital portfolios, art, or workbooks. 📚🕺🎨
They can show their parents center activities or games they play in class. Some students even share songs and dances that they have learned. It was so nice to see how many family members came to learn about their child`s education.
We were so proud of how our students, from our youngest to our oldest, communicated with their families! Families left happy but often wanting even more time!✨
12月8日に生徒主導面談（SLC: Student Led Conferences）を開催しました。 生徒自身がご家族に自分の教室や活動を紹介する形式で、各家庭45分間の枠を用意しました。 家庭の公用語で進行するため、子どもたちは自分の喜びや成功、学びを自由に共有することができます。
🥳Sports Day 2024🌈 Preschool🎈This year’s Sports Day was held at the Yokohama Budokan✨ It was a new venue with ample space for maximising activity times and decreasing wait times. Combined with an IB approach, we were able to break the mould of a typical Sports Day to do things like; hold multiple games at once, and mix three different age groups to allow everyone to play simultaneously. This meant that our event could bring everyone together like only a sporting event can.
Elementary School🌻This year’s Sports Day was different in many ways, compared to last year. We doubled the amount of students, changed venues, and added more student chosen games, among other things. Fortunately the good things were kept: the teamwork, strategies, attitude and physical display the students showed were amazing. We’re moving towards a Sports day dedicated entirely to the kids, chosen by and for them, maybe soon even planned and conducted by them too!✨
*(日本語は英語の後で) On November 16th (Saturday), a joint Professional Development (PD) session for Preschool and Elementary School was held📖 This PD session was optional, and 16 participants from Preschool and 7 from Elementary School attended. Ms. Darby, the IB PYP Coordinator at CGK, facilitated the session, which focused on “Assessment” and “Inquiry.✏️
“Assessment” means “evaluation.” However, in the context of children, assessment is not primarily about evaluating; it is a reflection and record of the children’s current growth in order to understand their progress and provide further support. It’s primary purpose is to allow us to tailor learning to meet the needs of our students and for them to reflect on their growth.
One moment that stood out was when a teacher was asked about the purpose of conducting assessments for children. One teacher answered, “It’s really fun to see how far they’ve come at the end of the school year,” which was very memorable😊
Check out the stories/hightlights for more details!✨
11月16日(土)に、プリスクールと初等部の合同でPD(Professional Development / 専門的能力を高めるトレーニング)が行われました📖 この日のPDは希望者参加型でしたが、プリスクールから16名、初等部から7名が参加し、CGKの国際バカロレアIB PYPコーディネーターであるMs. Darbyがファシリテーターを務め、“Assessment”と“inquiry”についての研修が行われました✏️
“Assessment”とは直訳すると「評価」ですが、子供たちに対するAssessmentは、単なる「評価」ではなく、子供たちの現在の成長を把握し、さらなるサポートをするための振り返りと記録です。 子どもたちのAssessmentを行う理由について先生が問いかけられた際、1人の先生が“It’s really fun to see how far they’ve come at the end of the school year. (1年を終えた時に、子供たちがどれだけ成長したかを見るのは本当に楽しい)“と答えたことが、とても印象的でした😊
