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January 2026
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January 2026
With January done and under our belts and hopefully with everyone's New Year's resolution sticking, 2026 has started fast! With our school year ending at the end of March, there is a lot coming up to keep us busy. Some key dates to remember:
Parent Observation, IB Info Session, and Parent Social Night - January 30 - February 06 (please check the for your child's class date)
PS PTC Day - February 07
Celebration of Learning and Sky Graduation - March 11
As always, please refer to the monthly calendar for more information.
Things might be busy but may it set us up for a great and successful 2026 for everyone.
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)
H. - For being a good communicator, always using words to express her feelings, and for being very good at balancing her emotions.
S. - For being a good communicator, expressing her feelings more and with greater confidence.
S. - For being balanced and taking more care to eat all of her lunch with greater focus.
Jungle B (3 year-olds)
G. - For being a curious Inquirer by always asking wonderful "why" questions and exploring our classroom with a big sense of wonder.
R. - For having the courage to try something new and difficult even when he felt a little bit nervous.
Mountain (4 year-olds)
L. -For taking care of her body and mind by always eating everything during lunch, playing at school and outside of school.
M. - For trying to do the right thing and helping her classmates and teachers
T. - For asking great, insightful questions and doing research in books to find new information
Y. - For taking chances during play time and speaking up with new ideas
Sky A (5 year-olds)
R. - For demonstrating confidence and leadership by volunteering to go first during the Celebration of Learning.
S. - For showing empathy and understanding to those around him and trying his best to help and support his friends when needed.
S. - For eagerly sharing her ideas and questions and showing genuine curiosity about other countries and cultures.
Sky B (5 year-olds)
R. - For demonstrating confidence and leadership by volunteering to go first during the Celebration of Learning.
S. - For showing kindness by always encouraging her classmates.
It is now 2026 and the Sky A class has entered the last few months of the school year and the last Unit of Inquiry, Who We Are. The Sky students will be exploring balanced choices and the effects that our choices have on ourselves, others and our environment.
Our curious and adventurous Sky A students love to make choices! Everyone chose their favourite animal, their favourite food, and their favourite toy. They chose kind things they can say to their friends. They chose how they can clean up their environment and even how they could reuse waste. They chose what foods they should eat more often to stay healthy and what they should eat as a treat. So many different choices to make everyday!
After every activity, the class has taken time to think about the consequences of their choices. Each student has made great efforts to thoughtfully consider what happened and what they can learn. Gradually, they are all learning to become more Balanced, Principled, and Reflective students. We can’t wait to see the choices that they make in the future!
This month, both Sky A and Sky B celebrated the New Year through a hands on learning experience that brought language, culture, and collaboration together. As the year began, students continued the Japanese tradition of creating kites during Japanese class while exploring ideas of culture and tradition. This experience became a meaningful bridge between our Units of Inquiry, connecting Where We Are in Place and Time to Who We Are, as both units emphasize the role culture plays in shaping identity. Through discussions and shared experiences, students began to understand how traditions connect people to their history and community.
The learning continued in English class, where flying the kites became an opportunity to extend this understanding through language and cooperation. Students worked together to plan, prepare, and problem-solve, using oral language to share ideas, give instructions, and reflect on what was happening in real time. They described the movement of the kites, expressed their excitement, and supported one another as they took turns launching and observing. With the wind on our side, the kites flew high and spirits were even higher, making it an engaging and memorable way to begin the year and set a positive tone for the months ahead.
今月の日本語活動では、書初め体験と「自分のかるた」製作を通して、文字や言葉に親しみながら、日本の文化や日本語の表現の楽しさに触れる時間を過ごしました。筆や墨を使って文字を書く体験では、普段とは違う道具や感触に興味をもち、「どうやって書くのかな」「どんな音がするのかな」と、五感を使いながら活動に取り組む姿が見られました。自分の手の動きが線となって表れることを感じながら、力加減を試したり、のびのびと筆を動かしたりと、一人ひとりが自分なりの表現を楽しんでいました。
また、ひらがな一文字から言葉や短い文を考える「自分のかるた」製作では、自分の名前に入っている文字を選んだり、好きなものやこれまでの経験を思い出しながら言葉を考えたりと、子どもたちが自分の世界を言葉で表現することに挑戦しました。どんな言葉にしようか友だちと相談したり、絵を描きながらイメージをふくらませたりする中で、自然と会話が生まれ、互いの考えに耳を傾ける姿も見られました。
これらの活動は、IBの Who we are のユニットとつながり、「自分はどんな存在か」「自分らしさとは何か」といったことを、子どもたちが自然に考えたり感じたりしながら、一人ひとりの違いを大切にしていけるような経験となることを願っています。同じ文字やテーマに取り組んでいても、表現の仕方や選ぶ言葉はそれぞれ異なり、その違いこそが「その子らしさ」であることを、活動を通して少しずつ実感しているようでした。
As we begin a new year full of possibility, Mountain class has launched an exciting new Unit of Inquiry: Where We Are in Place and Time. The turning of the year provides a meaningful opportunity for students to explore the passage of time and reflect on the past, present, and future.
Through this unit, Mountain friends are inquiring into how people move through places and across time. Our explorations include the connections between migration, culture and traditions, and the development of technology, helping students understand how changes over time shape who we are and how we live today.
We began the unit with an active and imaginative airport role-play, using air travel as a powerful symbol of technological advancement and global movement—particularly meaningful within our international school community. Students enthusiastically took on roles as passengers and staff, moving through check-in and security before “travelling” to destinations around the world and returning just in time for tea!
In addition, Mountain friends attempted to sort everyday objects and technologies into the categories of "far past", "recent past", and "present", before extending their thinking by designing their own ideas for future technology and attempted a bridge-building challenge, becoming mini-architects and trying to help as many bears travel across the river as they could!
As we move forward in this unit, we will continue to explore the reasons behind migration and technological change, as well as the forces that drive transformation over time. Through these inquiries, students are developing a stronger sense of identity and perspective, recognising that each of us is uniquely shaped by our time, place, and experiences.
We are looking forward to the meaningful discussions, creative thinking, and discoveries still to come.
あっという間に新しい年を迎えました。
Mountainクラスで過ごせる時間も残り約2か月となりました。残りの日々を大切にしながら、たくさんの楽しい思い出を作っていきたいと思います。
Mountainクラスでは、新しいユニット「Where We Are in Place and Time」に入り、これから昔と今で変わったこと、そして今も変わらず続いていることについて考えていく学習を進めていきます。その導入として、日本のお正月に親しまれている伝統的な遊びについて子どもたちに紹介しました。その中の一つとして凧あげを知り、実際にみんなで凧あげに出かけました。また、スクール内ではお手玉やビー玉当てにも取り組み、日本の昔ながらの遊びに親しみました。
活動前には、「お正月にはどんな遊びがあるのかな?」と話しながら、こま、けん玉、羽子板、凧あげなどの遊びに触れました。「やったことある!」「はじめて!」とさまざまな声が聞かれ、伝統的な遊びへの興味が広がっていく様子が見られました。
実際に凧あげをするのは初めてという子も多く、凧が風を受けて空高く上がると、「わあ!」「とんだ!」「もっとたかく!」と大興奮のMountainさんたち。友だちと一緒に走ったり、どうしたら高く上がるのか試したりしながら、夢中になって楽しんでいました。お手玉やビー玉当てでも、「もういっかい!」「できた!」と繰り返し挑戦する姿が見られ、遊びを通して集中力や手先の使い方を学んでいる様子でした。
この体験を通して、子どもたちは日本の伝統的な遊びに親しむことができました。今後は、こうした体験をもとに、昔と今で変わったことや、今も変わらず大切にされていることについて、子どもたちと一緒に考えていきたいと思います。
Happy New Year, everyone! 2025 is gone, and we are all settled into 2026. This means that there are only a couple of months left before COL, and before our Jungle friends become Mountain friends! Therefore, we have started preparing for COL (Celebration of Learning.) As the performances are predominantly student-led, we gave the students the tools they needed to create and edit their own story. We accomplished this by giving them fun, pressure-free opportunities to make their own stories using imaginative, story-telling games. We allowed them to speak and create a story on the fly, and we allowed them to create a story using drawn images. With their imaginative juices flowing, we brainstormed ideas, decided all of the main story elements, and finally got a script done. Then to cap it all off, we eliminated some of our stage fright jitters by getting up there, pressure free, and having some fun! Now we're all looking forward to showing everybody the result of all of this wonderful preparation!
今年もどうぞよろしくお願いいたします。
年が明け、Jungle Aクラスとして過ごす時間も残り3か月を切りました。子どもたちの前には、COL、そしてMountainクラスへの進級という大きな節目が待っています。
日本語の時間では、これらの大きなイベントを迎えるにあたり、「楽しみなこと」「頑張りたいこと」「少し不安なこと」などをみんなで共有しながら、「どのように乗り越えていくか」を一緒に考えています。大きな期待を持って過ごす一方で、プレッシャーや緊張を感じる時期でもあると思いますが、そんな時こそ、いつも一緒に過ごしている大好きなお友だちと「協力」すれば大丈夫だよ、というお話をしています。一人ではできないと思うことも、お友だちと一緒ならできるかもしれません。二人では大変なことも、五人で力を合わせれば、あっという間にできてしまうこともあります。遊びを通して、子ども同士で協力することの大切さや喜びを感じられるよう、チームワークをねらいとした活動に多く取り組んでいます。カプラを高く積み上げてタワーを作ったり、人間知恵の輪を通して一人ひとりの役割を感じたり、外遊びではどろけいをしながら、チームで協力する楽しさを学んでいます。
また、個々の微細運動のスキルや情緒的な発達を支えるため、はさみや文字のなぞり書きにも挑戦しています。IBのLearner Profileを参考にしながら、一人ひとりがそれぞれのペースで頑張ったことをたくさん認め、やる気につなげています。これからの数か月間、子どもたちがさまざまなことに「協力」して取り組み、友だちとの絆を深めながら、自信を育んでいってほしいと願っています!
Welcome back CGK Jungle friends! The time off has done you well and you have all grown so much! While we have really enjoyed our time off, we have made so much progress in the past month after coming back to school. We said goodbye to a dear friend who returned to their home country, began practicing and working hard on our production for the Celebration of Learning, and continue to show our growth in many wonderful ways.
We continued our superstar of the week, and this month marks the last day where the teachers will decide who the star is. From next month, it will all of your own responsibility! Which of your classmates have shown you that they are very caring? Who communicates well with their peers? Who is able to breath and calm down, even when they are upset? Who is a brave risk taker that tries many things? Who is growing and eating all of their lunch everyday? Let us know!
あけましておめでとうございます。
それぞれ楽しい冬休みを過ごした子どもたちは、新年最初の週、久しぶりにお友達や先生に会えたことがとても嬉しかったようで、少し興奮しながらも、次から次へとたくさんのお話を聞かせてくれました。冬休み中の出来事を、自分の言葉で生き生きと伝えようとする姿が印象的でした。長いお休み明けということもあり、「お正月モードからスクール生活に戻るまで少し時間がかかるかな?」と思っていましたが、サークルタイムやUOIの時間では落ち着いて話を聞き、お友達同士で気持ちを伝え合いながら遊ぶ姿が多く見られ、大きな成長を感じています。冬休みの思い出のShow and Tellでは、自信をもって発表する姿はもちろん、お友達の発表を静かに聞き、興味をもって質問する姿も見られ、「伝える」「聞く」という大切な学びが自然と育っていることを感じました。これはIBで大切にしているコミュニケーション力や他者への敬意にもつながる姿です。
また、お正月ならではの日本の文化に触れる活動も楽しみました。Jungle Bの書き初め大会では、自分の名前のなぞり書きに挑戦しました。今回は、日本の行事に親しみ、興味をもって取り組むことを目的としていたため、筆の持ち方や書き順を細かく直すことはせず、子どもたちが思うままに表現してもらいました。絵の具の量や力加減によって、一人ひとり異なる表情の文字が生まれ、とても味のある素敵な作品となりました。まだひらがなの読み書きが難しいお友達も多いですが、かるた遊びではひらがなと絵を手がかりにしながら、意欲的に挑戦する姿が見られました。今後も、楽しみながら日本語に親しめる活動を積極的に取り入れていきたいと思います。
早いもので、Jungle Bで過ごせる時間も残り3か月となりました。これまで日々の生活や遊びの中で学び、積み重ねてきたことが、ある日ふと「できた!」につながったり、普段の姿の中に表れてきたりしています。子どもたち一人ひとりが自信をもって次のステップへ進めるよう、引き続き丁寧にサポートしていきたいと思います。子どもたち、ご家族の皆さま、そして私たちも、健康を第一に、毎日を楽しみながら学びのある一年にしていきましょう。
本年もどうぞよろしくお願いいたします。
Story time plays a vital role in the daily routine of Ocean Class, supporting the learning and development of our 2–3 year olds in a meaningful and engaging way. Through shared stories, children build early language skills, learn important social messages, and develop their imagination in a calm and nurturing environment.
Recently, we have been enjoying classic stories such as The Three Little Pigs. This story has helped us introduce the idea of perseverance and resilience. By talking about the pigs’ choices, we encourage the children to try their best, even when something feels difficult, and to understand that it’s okay to keep going rather than crying or giving up. These simple messages help build confidence and a positive attitude towards learning.
We have also been reading Goldilocks and the Three Bears, which has been a wonderful way to explore sensory vocabulary. The children enjoyed describing textures and experiences such as “hard,” “soft,” “hot,” and “cold,” helping to expand their language and understanding of the world around them. Alongside this, the story supports discussions about listening to teachers and parents and making safe choices.
Overall, story time in Ocean Class is more than just listening to a book. It supports communication, emotional development, and early life skills, while creating a shared, enjoyable experience that helps children feel secure, engaged, and ready to learn.
3月に行われるCOLに向けて、子どもたちの興味・関心を大切にしながら、少しずつ活動を進めています。「くいしんぼおばけ」の曲に合わせて歌ったり踊ったり、おばけのお面を作ったりと、楽しみながら取り組んでいます。すでに「明日ママ見に来る?」「いつ見せるの?」と質問してくる子もおり、今からご家族に自分たちの学びを発表することをとても楽しみにしている様子が見られます。
「表現」と一言でいっても、その方法はさまざまです。Oceanクラスの子どもたちが今取り組んでいる歌やダンスでの表現のほかにも、製作活動や言葉で相手に伝えることなど、多くの表現方法があります。中には、歌やダンスは少し恥ずかしいけれど、クレヨンや絵の具で表すことが好きな子、製作活動よりも走ったり話したりすることが好きな子もいます。何が良い・悪いということではなく、自分の「好き」「苦手」を知り、それを示すことも大切な表現の一つです。さらに表現方法を細かく見ていくと、日々のスクール生活の中での活動や遊び、友だちや先生との関わりを通して、子どもたちは多くのことを身につけています。一見、ただ遊んでいるように見えても子どもたちはさまざまなことを考え、意図をもって選択を繰り返しています。時には失敗することもありますが、その経験をもとに方法を変えながら成功体験を重ね、自信へとつなげています。
現在も引き続き「私たちはどのように表現するのか(How We Express Ourselves)」というテーマを通して、自分自身のことだけでなく、友だちや周囲の人・物事について深く知る機会を大切にしています。今年度も残り3か月を切りましたが、進級への期待を膨らませながら、一人ひとりが「表現することの喜び」を感じられるよう、引き続きサポートしていきたいと思います。
1月13日・14日の2日間、初等部1・2年生全員と、3年生以上のJALクラスの生徒たちが書き初めに取り組みました。日本の伝統文化に触れる貴重な機会として、毎年大切にしている活動の一つです。
「とめ・はね・はらい」に気を付けて書くこと、そしてゆっくり落ち着いて、一画一画を丁寧に書くことを目標に取り組みました。慣れない筆や墨に少し緊張しながらも、教室内は静かで集中した雰囲気に包まれ、生徒たちは真剣な表情で筆を運んでいました。
また、書き初めにおいても生徒の主体性を大切にし、学年・クラスに合った候補の中から「自分が書きたい文字」をそれぞれが選びました。自分で選んだ文字だからこそ、どの生徒もいつも以上に集中し、納得のいく一枚を仕上げようと一生懸命に取り組む姿が見られました。書き終えた後には、自分の作品に自信を持って提出する生徒の姿が印象的でした。
書き初めを通して改めて学んだ「とめ・はね・はらいを意識すること」「落ち着いて丁寧に書くこと」は、これからの国語・日本語の授業や日々の学習にもつながっていく大切な姿勢です。今回の経験を今後の学びに生かしていけることを期待しています。
なお、1・2年生の作品は図書室に、3年生以上のJALクラスの作品は7階 Multipurpose Room前の廊下に、2月中旬ごろまで掲示しております。ご来校のご予定がございましたら、ぜひ生徒たちの力作をご覧ください。
On January 13 and 14, all G1 and G2 students in ES, as well as JAL class students in G3 and up, participated in a Japanese traditional New Year’s calligraphy activity (Kakizome). This is one of the important annual activities for students to experience traditional Japanese culture.
Students worked with the goals of paying close attention to tome, hane, and harai (stops, hooks, and sweeps), and writing each stroke slowly, calmly, and carefully. Although many students felt a little nervous using unfamiliar brushes and ink, the classrooms were filled with a quiet, focused atmosphere as they moved their brushes carefully.
In this activity, we also placed great importance on student initiative. From several options that match their level, each student chose the character they personally wanted to write. Because they selected the character themselves, students showed an especially high level of concentration and worked earnestly to complete a piece they could be satisfied with. It was impressive to see them submit their finished work with confidence.
Through this calligraphy experience, students were reminded of the importance of being mindful of tome, hane, and harai, and of writing carefully and calmly—attitudes that will continue to be essential in Japanese language classes and in their daily learning. We hope they will carry these lessons forward in their future studies.
The works of 1st and 2nd graders are displayed in the library, and those of Grade 3 and above JAL class students are displayed in the hallway in front of the Multipurpose Room on the 7th floor until around mid-February. If you have the opportunity to visit the school, we warmly invite you to take a look at the students’ wonderful creations.
Hello everyone. In our Thursday Project-Based Learning class, students have begun an exciting new student-choice project focused on model airplane design. Earlier in the term, students brainstormed possible project ideas, shared their interests, and voted on the topic they were most excited to explore. Through this process, they selected the guiding question: How can we design, build, and enter our diverse model aircraft into our own student-led model airplane competition? This approach gives students ownership of their learning from the very start.
To launch the project, students learned about the basics of how airplanes fly. We began by discussing what students already knew, and they quickly identified that air and wings are essential for flight. From there, students were introduced to key physics concepts such as airfoils, air pressure, lift, and thrust through a short presentation designed to make complex ideas accessible and engaging.
Students then participated in a live, hands-on demonstration using a variety of flying objects, including paper airplanes, styrofoam gliders, and flying toys. This allowed them to observe how different materials, shapes, and building techniques affect flight. Interacting directly with these models helped students connect abstract concepts to real-world examples and sparked many thoughtful questions and ideas.
After the demonstration, students worked in teams to begin their own original aircraft projects. They brainstormed ideas, wrote short project proposals, presented their plans to the class, and began building early prototypes. Students chose different design focuses based on their interests, including distance, movement, functionality, and creative design. This project is intentionally long-term, giving students time to test, revise, and improve their work over several weeks.
To close the class, students who had working models tested their airplanes on the 5th floor. During this testing time, students even began creating their own competition rules, starting with a category focused on longest flight distance. The excitement and collaboration on display made it clear how engaged the students are, and we look forward to seeing their designs continue to evolve as the project progresses.
Australia
Canada
New Zealand
2025年のCGKから海外留学参加者・予定者は合計24名。
夏休みを利用した短期留学も大変盛り上がり、オーストラリア・ニュージーランド・カナダでの単身留学や親子留学が次々と実現しています。
✦この夏のハイライト
CGKプリスクール卒業生・アフタースクールの1年生がカナダへ単身留学を実現!
CGK初等部1年生がオーストラリアのIB PYP校に初めて留学!
G7生の単身長期留学がスタート!
それぞれが留学の挑戦を通じて、自分の力を広げ、自信を持って帰国することができました。
オーストラリア
St. Paul’s School(私立一貫校)
Essendon North Primary School(公立小学校・IB PYP校)
Ipswich Girls' Grammar School (私立女子一貫校)
Browns English Language School(語学学校)
Guardian Childcare & Education South Melbourne (保育園)
ニュージーランド
Belmont Intermediate School(公立中学校)
カナダ
Global College Camp
Assumption College Catholic Middle School(公立中学校)
St. James Catholic Elementary School(公立小学校)
CGKは、子どもたち一人ひとりの挑戦を大切にしながら、これからも丁寧にサポートしてまいります。ニーズや期間に応じて、安心して学べる留学先をご提案します。
In 2025, a total of 24 CGK students have already participated in or are scheduled to join 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 of This Summer
A CGK Preschool graduate and current After-School Grade 1 student achieved a solo study abroad in Canada!
A CGK Elementary Grade 1 student became the first to study abroad at an IB PYP school in Australia!
A Grade 7 student began their solo long term study abroad journey!
Through these challenges, each student broadened their horizons and returned with greater self-confidence.
Study Abroad Destinations:
Australia
St. Paul’s School (Private all-through school)
Essendon North Primary School (Public primary school, IB PYP)
Ipswich Girls' Grammar School (Private all-through girls' school)
Browns English Language School (Language school)
Guardian Childcare & Education South Melbourne (Childcare centre)
New Zealand
Belmont Intermediate School (Public middle school)
Canada
Global College Camp
Assumption College Catholic Middle School (Public middle school)
St. James Catholic Elementary School (Public primary school)
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.
[Study Abroad in NZ] Owairoa Primary School
【ニュージーランド親子留学】Owairoa Primary School
[ES Solo Study Abroad in NZ] Gulf Harbour School
【小学生単身ニュージーランド留学】Gulf Harbour School
[Study Abroad in NZ] Owairoa Primary School (5 year olds)
【5歳のニュージーランド親子留学】オワイロア小学校
[ES Solo Study Abroad in Canada] Summer Camp in Vancouver
【小学生単身カナダ留学】サマーキャンプ in バンクーバー
Throughout the year (on weekends or during long breaks, either for day trips or overnight stays)
You can experience a homestay with a foreign family residing in Japan.
Deadline: Approximately one month prior to your desired dates
For details/application, please contact Mayu at the Office.
CGK has a positive stance on accepting international students from abroad with a view to encouraging multicultural cooperation. Students from different cultures and backgrounds can interact with and help each other at CGK, bringing rich diversity to the classroom. This environment of diversity provides each student with a valuable opportunity to learn different viewpoints and increase mutual understanding.
At CGK, we believe that diversity improves educational development. By learning and working together, students from different backgrounds will grow into leaders with global perspective. In addition, experiencing diverse opinions and values will help them develop tolerance and empathy.
In order to create an environment conducive to hosting short-term students, we are looking for host families; if you are a CGK family interested in registering as a host family, please contact Mayu at the Office (Toddle is OK).
CGKでは海外からの留学生を積極的に受け入れ、多文化共生を推進していきます。異なる文化や環境で育った生徒たちが交流し、助け合うことで、クラス全体に豊かな多様性がもたらされます。この多様な環境は、生徒一人ひとりに異なる視点を学び、相互理解を深める貴重な機会を提供します。
CGKは、この多様性が教育的な成果を高めると信じています。異なる背景を持つ生徒たちが共に学び、協力することで、グローバルな視野を持つリーダーとして成長することが期待されます。さらに、多様な意見や価値観に触れることで、寛容さや共感力も育まれます。
短期留学生受け入れの環境を整えるため、ホストファミリーを募集しています。CGKファミリーの方でホストファミリー登録にご興味のある方は、OfficeのMayuまでご連絡ください(Toddle可)。
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