Educator
Introduction to the educator community of CGK teachers and international schools
In school education, it is of course important to have excellent teaching staff and a high quality curriculum, but it is also very important to improve and develop the staff community within the school. This is not just about improving salaries and other benefits, but also about building a community that provides a foundation for teachers and staff who are involved on the front line with students and parents on a daily basis to work wisely within the school organisation, with a sense of fulfilment and a feeling that each and every one of them is valued.
Educators are also lifelong learners and are in a position to constantly practice input and output. In the world of education, where there are no right answers, it is educators who can improve each other through the exchange of various opinions, which is why it is important to have a community that connects educators not only within their own school community, but also with external educators.
CGK International School will continue to focus on improving and developing such a community of educators.
Professional development training for CGK teachers
As well as using training from external organisations, training is also actively provided within CGK International School.
IB Workshop
As an International Baccalaureate (IB) PYP candidate school, all IB PYP teachers attend the official workshops offered by the IB Organisation, which, like the IB curriculum, are attended by teachers who are not passive but active participants, enabling them to learn in depth.
As well as these workshops, our IB PYP coordinator also conducts in-school workshops. The workshops further deepen teachers' understanding of the IB and put it into practice.
Exchanges and workshops with other IB schools
One of the benefits of becoming an IB World School is the opportunity to interact and learn together with other IB schools. There are many IB schools in the Kanto region, many of which have a very long history, and we are actively involved in meetings, visits and workshops with these international schools, giving us the opportunity to grow together as a school.
Nursery teacher (hoikushi) training
There are various training courses, including free training courses provided by public institutions and paid training courses organised by other organisations, which they actively attend as long as they are beneficial to their daily childcare and school operations. Because the preschool teachers are working diligently on childcare on a daily basis, all of them have a very positive attitude towards solving their own challenges and improving their knowledge and abilities. However, these trainings are held in Japanese.
Training by TAIP
On the other hand, training provided by TAIP (Tokyo Association of International Preschools) is conducted in English.
At CGK's preschool, we have a two-teacher system with a Japanese nursery teacher and a foreign teacher, but in most preschools, the Japanese staff is in charge of childcare and the foreign staff is in charge of English education. In CGK's preschool, there are often situations where foreign teachers take the lead in English education, and situations where Japanese nursery teachers actively take the lead from the perspective of a childcare professional, but both sides actively share opinions and cooperate in both childcare and education in their daily care and education.
In education, not only from the perspective of English education, but also in the practice of IB education, Japanese nursery teachers are involved in curriculum production and have daily opportunities to lead and practice teaching, and in childcare, foreign teachers are also involved on a daily basis because they are serious about the children's healthy development, both mentally and physically.
In Japan, there are very few training courses conducted in English, but in order to give such foreign teachers the opportunity to receive training in early childhood education and care, our school is a member of TAIP, which provides them with the opportunity to attend training courses in English.
Interaction among CGK faculty and staff
In addition to social events such as after-school-event parties, end-of-year parties, welcome parties and farewell parties, a variety of other social events are also organised.
Book Club
The person in charge of the session chooses a book in advance, and participants read the book in their favourite language, either English or Japanese, in advance. On the day of the book club, which is held once a month, we actively exchange our thoughts and opinions about the books. The books we usually read tend to be biased towards our own interests and tastes, but we can make new discoveries by reading books recommended by others. In the course of exchanging opinions, we also have insights from a deep perspective that only educators can offer, or ask each other questions about Japanese and foreign cultures in the real world as we learn about them from novels, while enjoying drinks and light meals.
Christmas Party
A Christmas party is held just before the winter break, where Christmas presents are exchanged.
Movie Night
It is a very simple event where people can enjoy a drink or a meal and enjoy a film together.
Watching professional basketball games
Yokohama Excellence is a professional basketball team based at the Yokohama Budokan, of which CGK is a partner company.
In 2001, Yokohama Excellence was founded as an amateur men's basketball team. After winning the Tokyo Championship and finishing third in the All-Japan Club Basketball Championships the team turned professional and became Tokyo Excellence in 2012 to continue their success and growth.
On July 1, 2021, the club relocated to Yokohama and became Yokohama Excellence to reflect its new home. In the 2022/23 season, the club finished third in the B3 League. With the 2023/24 B3 League season starting in October, Yokohama Excellence will continue its goal to win the B3 championship and be promoted to B2, and CGK staff, students and parents, support as a partner.
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Bilingual preschool teacher exchange
Community management and implementation of social events
Management of the Facebook group 'Learning and Exchange Community for Preschool Teachers and Staff'.
It is an opportunity for bilingual preschool teachers from CGK Preschool and bilingual preschool teachers from other schools to interact, exchange ideas, and also improve their skills through workshops and other activities. International preschool teachers are required to have a variety of skills in English, childcare and global perspectives, which is why we believe it is important to have an environment where they can grow together.
For information on the teaching staff of CGK International School, see Faculty & Staff page, and for information on employment opportunities for teachers and staff, see Employment page.