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Front Page & Features
Front Page & Features
CGK School Festival 2026
Thank you to everyone who attended this year's School Festival! We tried something new this year by having the School Festival over two days and it was a big success: we welcomed many people who came to enjoy all the fun and games. Some even braved the rain to come both days which was amazing and we really appreciate it. School Festival is a special event for us because it brings together all CGK departments as well as the groups and communities that support us in our work. We could not have such a big and exciting School Festival without everyone's support and participation: from the sponsors, vendors, workshop hosts, and performers to our students and staff and their families and friends we would like to express our sincerest gratitude for being a part of the 2026 School Festival. Thank you and do join us for next year's School Festival!
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Preschool
CGK Awards
Welcome to the world renowned, highly respected, and much revered CGK Awards! Each month we would like to highlight the children from each class who have displayed qualities that are part of the IB Learner Profile. These are qualities that we want our children to have and to share with the world. With that, the recipients of this month's CGK Achievement Awards are:
Jungle A (3-year-olds)
J. - For being a risk-taker and jumping in the pool even when he was a little nervous.
Jungle B (3-year-olds)
M. - For being open-minded and helping friends when they are sad, even when she is sad herself.
T - For being knowledgable and sharing information that he has learned with others.
Mountain A (4-year-olds)
M. - For being a wonderful Balanced role model who does their best in all activities, cares for her things, and respecting others' feelings!
M. - For asking insightful questions and kindly helping your friends find answers as a true Thinker!
Mountain B (4-year-olds)
H. - For showing curiosity, thinking carefully, and asking interesting questions during UOI.
M. - For actively participating in class by asking questions, sharing ideas, and demonstrating growing knowledge.
Sky (5-year-olds)
L. - For asking many questions about the new things that she sees.
R. - For never giving up when attempting difficult challenges.
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Preschool
Sky (5-year-olds)
Preparing for the School Festival!
The Sky students worked hard to prepare for our School Festival, bringing their creativity, imagination, and teamwork to every step of the process!
Inspired by their learning about Egypt during our Where We Are in Place and Time Unit of Inquiry, the students decided that Egypt would be a perfect fit for this year’s festival theme, Folklore from Around the World.
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Their journey began with collecting recycled materials and thinking about how they could transform everyday items into something special. They then worked together to create their own mummy sarcophagus bowling pins, bringing their ideas about ancient Egypt to life!
Throughout the process, the students shared ideas, made creative decisions, and added their own personal touches to their creations. It was wonderful to see them take ownership of their work and use their previous learning as inspiration for something new.
When the festival arrived, the Sky students were excited to share their creations with families and the wider school community. We are so proud of their creativity, enthusiasm, and collaboration throughout this experience!
Well done, Sky Class, for bringing your learning to life and helping make our School Festival so special!
During the Summer School period Afterschool does a series of mini projects instead of the regular curriculum. One of those mini projects was about creating your own country and the students of Class D loved working on it so much that they decided to continue it after mini projects finished in their new Student Choice project.
Once they had finished their countries in great detail they realised that they had inadvertently created a rich and varied world that could be used as the basis for a DND style adventure game!
After creating their own characters they started role playing in the world that they created. The game has been a blast so far with students needing to work together, communicate, listen, read, interact with NPCs, think on their feet, follow complex story points, solve puzzles, and battle monsters! All while laughing hysterically at the crazy things that happen in their adventure.
Adventure game is always so much fun and it is really rewarding seeing the students put so many of their own ideas and unique personalities into the world they create. I am really looking forward to seeing how they continue to tackle this adventure over the coming months.
Deep Learning Beyond “Why?” — A Month of Experiencing the Inquiry Process
This month, Sky Class explored a range of activities in our How the World Works unit to deepen our understanding of the central idea: “Through exploration, we can discover ways to answer questions and solve problems.”
Through classroom experiments and outdoor fieldwork, the children experienced the scientific process of predicting, trying things out, and reflecting with their whole bodies.
Some of the most memorable moments came when their inquiry went deeper. Rather than stopping at seeing or touching something, the children often shared their spontaneous questions — “Why?” and “How come?” — with friends and teachers there and then.
As they used magnifying glasses to notice fine details and opened reference books to check what they had seen, their curiosity grew from an initial interest into deeper inquiry. “Isn’t this the one in the book?” and “Look! This pill bug is a lighter colour!” they said to one another as they searched for answers themselves. They were truly little scientists: inquirers and thinkers.
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The experience of asking their own questions in everyday life, investigating independently and with friends, and discovering answers is taking root as deep learning that will support the children in the future.
When you hear your child ask “Why?” at home, try becoming their inquiry partner. Enjoy a conversation together: “Why do you think that is?” or “Shall we find out together?”
Journeying Beyond the Classroom: Exploring Nogeyama Zoo!
Learning at our preschool extends far beyond the classroom walls. Our Mountain Classes recently ventured on an exciting field trip to Nogeyama Zoo, bridging concepts we have learned in the classroom with the real world. This trip provided a hands-on opportunity for students to observe animal behavior, adaptations, and habitats up close. We actively engaged as young scientists, asking thoughtful questions, looking for patterns, and applying classroom knowledge in real time.
I will give you details of 3 different elements of the IB Learner Profile that the students displayed during and after the excursion. The answers will be below, but try to see if you can spot them yourself!
The children’s natural curiosity drove the trip. While exploring the reptile exhibit, one of our learners asked a brilliant question: "What's the difference between a turtle and a tortoise?" Together, we investigated and discovered that while turtles are adapted for life in the water, tortoises are built for living on land!
During our Japanese language sessions following the trip, students took ownership of their learning by expressing their observations through choices that suited them best—using clay sculptures, detailed drawings, and toy figures.
Observing living creatures up close deepened the children's empathy and appreciation for animals and their environments, reinforcing how we Share Our Planet.
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Swipe to browse · Select a photo to enlarge
Swipe to browse · Select a photo to enlarge
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At CGK, we deeply value families as essential partners in the learning process. We encourage you to continue this inquiry at home! Ask your child:
Which animal surprised you the most at Nogeyama Zoo? How did you choose to represent your favorite animal during Japanese class? What is one difference between a land animal and a water animal you noticed? I think you will be surprised at what your child has to share.
Thank you for your continued support as we nurture inquisitive, caring lifelong learners together!
Sports Day is a celebration of our Physical Education program and philosophy. It is designed to help children enjoy movement, build independence, and collaborate with peers across different age groups. The event highlights creativity, teamwork, and the joy of physical activity, supporting students as they progress through three key growth stages: “I dare to do it” → “I can do it” → “I know how to do it.”
Event Structure & Game Rotation
This year’s Sports Day has been structured to minimize waiting times and maximize active participation and fun. Two games will run simultaneously, and teams will swap sides at the conclusion of each match to play the second game. This rotation ensures that every student gets the opportunity to participate in every activity.
Student-Created Games
A special feature of this year’s event is that five of the games were created by our students working in small groups during PSPE lessons:
Sharks and Treasure
Blind Mail
Homing Pigeon
Dangerous Pizza Delivery
Monkey Army
By collaborating in groups to generate and refine ideas, our students build essential communication, social, and critical thinking skills. These core competencies support their learning journey across all areas of school life.
Event Schedule
Date: Wednesday, November 25th, 2026 (Weekday, no backup day)
Access: 6 minutes walk from JR Kannai Station. No parking available at Yokohama Budokan; public transportation is strongly encouraged.
Event Times:
Registration opens at 13:00
Drop-off time: 13:00–13:30
Event time: 13:30–16:30
For the CGK community only. This event is not open to the general public.
Please message your child’s homeroom teacher as soon as possible through Toddle if your child will be late or absent.
Attire & Items
Students: Team-colour t-shirt, comfortable sports pants, water bottle.
Parents: You are more than welcome to dress up in your child’s team colour to show your support.
Beverages: Only water is allowed on the court. No tea or sports drinks are allowed.
Footwear: Students will take their indoor shoes home on Wednesday. Please make sure they bring their indoor athletic shoes with them to the arena.
Spectator Seating
Events will be held on the courts on the second floor. You can observe all events from the third-floor seating area. Please be mindful that there are no reserved seats.
Please make sure to keep any young children who are not participating in Sports Day with you at all times.
This month, the students in Jungle A worked hard to prepare for the various exciting events taking place at CGK!
For the School Festival, the students decided to create a Humpty Dumpty-themed game. To make it a fun activity that they could share with others, everyone took time to create their own Humpty Dumpty artwork. Using cut-out egg shapes, the students carefully decorated their pieces and did their best to put Humpty Dumpty back together again! Alongside their Humpty Dumpty creations, Jungle A has also been busy crafting horses, eggs, and a brick wall to bring the classic nursery rhyme to life. We are looking forward to sharing their finished game with everyone at the School Festival!
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Alongside their School Festival preparations, the class were also busy creating decorations for our upcoming Harvest Festival. This year, CGK Preschool will celebrate a variety of autumnal festivities, including Halloween, Diwali, Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), and Tsukimi. Through these celebrations, we hope to provide the children with opportunities to explore different cultural traditions and discover the many ways people around the world celebrate this special time of year.
As part of our preparations, Jungle A has been exploring some of these traditions through hands-on art experiences. The students worked carefully to create beautiful Diwali lanterns, learning about the colourful lights often associated with this festival. They also put great effort into making Día de los Muertos-inspired masks, experimenting with colours, patterns, and decorations to create their own unique designs. It has been lovely to see the children approach each activity with curiosity and enthusiasm, taking pride in their creations and sharing their ideas with their friends.
We are so proud of all the hard work Jungle A has put into preparing for these upcoming celebrations. Together we hoped you enjoyed their creations which they were excited to share with the wider CGK community!
Our four-year-old classes are continuing their Sharing the Planet unit, learning about nearby nature, living things, and their connections with our lives. Recently, we have been focusing on plants and deepening our interest in them through a variety of activities.
As part of our learning, we visited a different park and spent plenty of time exploring nature, looking for plants and closely observing the shapes and colours of their leaves. Seeing and touching them firsthand sparked questions such as “Is an acorn a seed?” and “Where are a flower’s seeds?” We have seen the children’s interests and inquiry grow. They have been finding nuts and opening them to search for seeds, and making rings from flowers in the park. More and more children seem interested in the plants around them. To deepen our learning, we are also considering what plants need to grow. At school, we have begun growing radish sprouts, watching their growth while thinking about how best to care for them. Growing plants themselves is helping the children consider what keeps them healthy and encouraging them to treat plants with care.
We are also investigating how plants help us in everyday life. We have been looking at furniture made from wood, clothing made from cotton, the vegetables and fruit we eat, spices used in cooking, and many other familiar things. As the children enjoy discoveries such as “This comes from plants too!”, they are beginning to notice the connections between plants and things they use or eat without usually thinking about them.
Through these activities, the children are not only observing and growing plants but also deepening their understanding of how closely our lives are connected with them. We will continue to value their “I want to know!” and “Why?”, enjoy exploring nearby nature together, and help each child’s discoveries lead to deeper inquiry.
As the seasons change, Jungle Class has begun a new unit of inquiry: How the World Works.
In this unit, we are focusing on living and non-living things. With the broad idea that both living and non-living things can change or move in response to their environment, we are investigating how the world works through the perspectives of function, change, and causation.
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We are currently focusing on animals and plants, deepening our understanding of their life cycles through songs, picture books, and experiments. We are exploring what changes, how it changes, and what is needed for growth and change.
Jungle A visited a home improvement store to buy tulip bulbs and seeds for sprouts and other flowers, then planted them as soon as we returned to CGK. We are now closely observing their growth. Through discussions and other activities, the children are developing their understanding and making predictions about whether anything has changed and what is needed for change and growth. When something has not changed, they offer all sorts of ideas: “Maybe it’s dead?” or “Perhaps we should give it more water!”
Jungle B is learning about the life cycles of plants and other living things through picture books, quizzes, discussions, station play, and other activities. One child suggested that vehicles have life cycles because some become big, like buses. When a teacher asked, “Do they eat, then?”, the child realised, “Um, no!” Another child said, “Plants aren’t alive because they don’t start as eggs.” A teacher responded, “But plants need water too, don’t they?” This prompted a thoughtful “That’s true…” These exchanges encourage deeper thinking and broaden our inquiry into living and non-living things and life cycles.
We look forward to continuing to observe, think, and inquire together with the children as we deepen our understanding!
We have officially begun our new Unit of Inquiry, How the World Works, with a soft launch exploring a variety of exciting possibilities! The Jungle B friends were introduced to several potential areas of exploration, including animals, space, flowers, and movement. After sharing their thoughts and interests, the children were given the opportunity to decide which direction they wanted to pursue, encouraging student agency and allowing their curiosity to help guide our learning journey.
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As we began our inquiry, we explored the differences between living and non-living things through a picture-sorting activity, sharing our ideas and discussing what makes something alive. We also began investigating life cycles and how living things grow and change over time. To deepen our understanding of our own needs, the children participated in an activity where they sorted pictures of things we need and things we do not need, placing them into a thought-bubble display. This encouraged them to think about what helps us grow, stay healthy, and live.
Stories have also played an important role in sparking our curiosity. We enjoyed reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Gruffalo, using these familiar stories as opportunities to observe, ask questions, and make connections with the world around us.
This is just the beginning of our inquiry, and we are excited to see where the children's questions, ideas, and discoveries will take us next. By following their interests and encouraging them to investigate the world around them, we hope to nurture curious, confident learners who are eager to explore how things work!
The Joy of Expressing Ourselves and Creating Together!
This month, Ocean Class became familiar with a variety of events and grew excited about the days ahead through craft activities for their first School Festival and rehearsals for Sports Day. During our preparations, we have valued enjoying activities together while incorporating each child’s opinions and ideas. By sharing their thoughts, listening to friends’ ideas, and taking part in the preparations, we hope the children will feel that they too are helping to create these events and look forward to them even more.
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In our craft activities, we made decorations for the School Festival booth. The children let their imaginations grow around the theme, chose materials they liked, and enjoyed making their own creations. They carefully considered and experimented with everything from the colours and sizes of stickers to where to put them and how many eyes to add. “Maybe I’ll put it here?” and “I want to add more!” they said as they tried to bring their ideas to life. Their free and dynamic thinking always amazes us. Even with the same theme, every finished piece was different: wonderful creations filled with individual personalities and preferences. Through thinking, choosing, and finding ways to give their ideas form, the children seem to be discovering both the fun of expressing themselves and the joy of seeing their ideas take shape.
We have also recently begun the How We Express Ourselves unit, exploring how to communicate thoughts and feelings through art, dance, singing, pretend play, and other forms of expression, as well as words. In their everyday play, the children express themselves in many ways: giving their thoughts form through drawing and crafts, moving freely to music, and enjoying imaginary worlds in pretend play. In the activities ahead, we will continue to provide opportunities to explore different forms of expression while valuing each child’s “I want to try!” and “I’d like to do it this way!”
Alongside enjoying their own expression, discovering friends’ creations and ideas is an important part of learning. Even with the same theme, the ways children express themselves and the things they imagine are different. Seeing a friend’s work can lead to a new discovery: “That’s another way to do it!” We will continue to help the children enjoy expressing themselves while noticing their differences and learning to appreciate one another’s ideas and expressions.
As autumn brings cooler temperatures and the leaves start to change their colors to crimson, gold and brown, we keep are creative juices flowing in preparation for the school festival season. Our Ocean class students have been learning about how we express ourselves through imagination, creativity and inspiration.
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In anticipation of the school festival, Ocean students were asked to contribute to the decorations. Across several classes in both English and Japanese time the students were given different materials to make and mix different colors, identifying what colors we and our friends like best. The students had a lot of fun making a sign for the school festival where they could get their hands nice a messy. We would like to thank all the families and friends that came to the school festival. We had such a fun time!
Elsewhere, the students were introduced to various cultural events that occur around the world during autumn with particular focus on Halloween, Diwali, Tsukimi and Dea de los Muertos. During English UOI time, we took a look at some visuals of the different festivals and Ms. Mary explained the ideas behind each festival. The students were especially interested in the bright lights and vibrant colors that can be found during these events, and were inspired to create their own Halloween masks, monsters and trick-or-treat bags which we could decorate in class time.
It is not all crafting all the time however, as the Ocean students continue to exercise and explore during school times. The changing seasons have brought about changes in temperature, weather and scenery that we have explored during our walks outside (it continues to be very windy in Yokohama). The students love to play with soccer balls and rubber hoops out at the park which also gives us plenty of opportunity to practice sharing and regulating our emotions when we experience disappointment. Finally, Sports Day is on the horizon so the students have continued to move their bodies in different ways: running, jumping, balancing and crawling. We look forward to seeing everyone at Sports Day!
November 8 Open School | Preschool, Elementary & Middle School
Preschool, Elementary School, and Middle School Open School sessions will take place at our Kannai campus on Sunday, November 8. Check each department’s times and languages and register in advance.
Explore Learning in New Zealand: CGK Study Abroad Information Sessions This November
For Families of Current CGK Students Only
This November, CGK will host two Study Abroad Information Sessions featuring our partner schools in New Zealand.
Studying overseas gives children the opportunity to experience a different culture, broaden their horizons, and discover new ways of learning. There are many ways to study abroad, from short-term programs that offer a first experience of life overseas to longer placements at local schools.
For families considering study abroad, it is important to look beyond brochures and learn what everyday school life is really like, what the learning environment offers, and how students are supported while overseas.
At each session, a representative from one of our partner schools will join us online to introduce their school, share insights into daily life on campus, and explain the support available to international students.
Both schools are in the Auckland area on New Zealand’s North Island. The map shows the approximate city location; follow each school’s address link for its precise location.
Session Lineup
Monday, November 16 | Glendowie College: Study Abroad in New Zealand
This session will focus on study abroad opportunities for secondary school students. Rebecca, who works with international students at our partner school Glendowie College, will join us online to introduce the school and talk about what students can expect when studying there.
A CGK student is currently attending Glendowie College on a long-term study abroad placement, so the school is already an important part of CGK’s study abroad program.
Age range: Approximately 13–18 years old (Years 9–13)
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Learning highlights: Students in Years 9 and 10 follow the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP), which emphasizes inquiry-based learning.
Rebecca will share firsthand insights into the school’s learning environment, everyday student life, and the support available to international students.
The session is a great opportunity for families considering study abroad in New Zealand, as well as those who would like to explore future options for their children.
This session will introduce short-term study abroad opportunities for primary school-aged children. Ruth, who works with international students at Gulf Harbour School (GHS), will join us online to talk about the school and what children can experience during a short-term placement.
GHS is one of the schools CGK is considering for its spring break short-term study abroad program.
Age range: Approximately 5–11 years old (Years 1–6)
Location: Near Auckland, New Zealand
Learning highlights: Children can learn alongside local students and experience everyday life at a New Zealand primary school. Parent-child study abroad options with homestay accommodation are also available.
This session is particularly suited to families who would like their children to experience life overseas for the first time or take a first step toward a possible long-term placement in the future.
Families will also have the opportunity to ask questions about the program, accommodation, local support, and application process.
*Please note that age requirements and eligibility criteria vary by program.
Finding the Right Study Abroad Option for Your Child
Every child and family is different, and the right study abroad experience will depend on a child’s interests and stage of development, as well as the family’s goals and preferences.
At CGK, we work closely with families to explore options that suit each child’s individual needs and help them make informed decisions about their learning journey.
We hope these sessions will give families a clearer picture of what studying in New Zealand can offer and help them explore the opportunities available to their children.
Content: An introduction to CGK’s short-term study abroad programs, an introduction to Gulf Harbour School, and a Q&A session
Further details and registration forms for both sessions will be shared on Toddle at a later date.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Study Abroad & Global Initiatives
2025 Summer CGK Study Abroad
A record of CGK’s study abroad experiences in 2025.
In 2025, a total of 24 CGK students have already participated in overseas study abroad programs.
This summer’s short-term study abroad programs were a great success, with solo and parent–child opportunities realized in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.
✦ Highlights
Australia
Ipswich Girls Grammar School (Private all-through girls’ school) CGK G3 Ako, AS G2 Yusei
At CGK, we will continue to value each child’s unique challenge, carefully supporting them with safe and suitable study abroad options tailored to their needs and duration.
Standings and records are as of the end of all games on October 31. The official B.LEAGUE table confirms 1st place in the Central District with a 7–3 record.
October 17 (Sat): CGK International School presents Yokohama Excellence vs Gifu Swoops
Students, families, and staff joined the local community in cheering the team on. Yokohama Excellence came from behind to beat Gifu 96–86! Ms. Renae presented the MOM award to #13 Hirotaka Ohashi.
The November 21–22 home games against Kumamoto will take place at Yokohama BUNTAI, rather than Yokohama Budokan. Please check the venue before travelling.
Dates, tip-off times, and venues may change. Please check the latest official information before attending.
