Year 9 Blake House Survival Guide 🎓¶

Welcome to Rathkeale College!

Congratulations, you've made it! You're now officially a Rathkeale boy. This guide will help you navigate your first few weeks without getting completely lost, confused, or accidentally ending up in the wrong class (it happens more than you'd think).

Essential Links 🔗¶

Before we dive in, bookmark these two websites NOW:

Rathkeale College Website - Your go-to for all official school information
The Hub - The Rathkeale App and student portal for timetables, notices, and everything else

Understanding Your Timetable 📅¶

Your timetable might look like hieroglyphics at first, but it's actually pretty simple. Each period shows you four pieces of information in the corners:

Top Left: Start time (when to arrive)
Top Right: Teacher code (who's teaching)
Bottom Left: Subject code (what you're learning)
Bottom Right: Location code (where to go)

Pro tip: Screenshot your timetable on your phone. You'll thank me later when you're standing in the hallway on Day 2 trying to remember where you're supposed to be.

Location Codes - Where Am I Going? 🗺️¶

Here are all the location codes you'll encounter. Maps will be added below so you can actually find these mysterious places:

Room Numbers¶

1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 16, 21, 22 - Standard classroom numbers

Special Locations¶

AJ - Art/Design area
BR1 - Blake Room 1
BR3 - Blake Room 3
DR - Drama Room
DTC - Digital Technology Centre (your home away from home if you're into tech!)
DVC - DVC Room
MC - Music Centre
SH - School Hall
TC - Technology Centre

Survival Tips for Locations: - The DTC is where all the cool digital stuff happens - computers, robotics, coding, you name it - If you get lost, don't panic. Just ask any older student. They've all been lost before too - BR1 and BR3 are Blake House rooms - you'll be spending registration time here - Learn where your locker is in relation to your most common classrooms. Strategic locker placement is an art form

[MAPS TO BE INSERTED HERE]

Subject Codes - What Am I Learning? 📚¶

All Year 9 subjects start with "9" followed by a three-letter code:

Core Subjects (Everyone Does These)¶

9ENG - English (Reading, writing, and trying to understand Shakespeare)
9MAT - Mathematics (Numbers, formulas, and the eternal question "When will I use this?")
9SCI - Science (Experiments that occasionally go wrong in the best way)
9SOC - Social Studies (History, geography, and learning about the world)
9PED - Physical Education (Running around and pretending you're fit)
9RST - Religious Studies (Philosophy, ethics, and big questions)

Option Subjects (Your Choices)¶

9ART - Art (Express yourself with paint, pencils, and occasionally glue)
9DGT - Digital Technologies (The computer version of tech)
9DRA - Drama (Acting, improv, and getting over stage fright)
9DVC - Design & Visual Communication (Drawing, designing, creating)
9FDS - Food & Design Studies (Cooking - yes, you get to eat what you make!)
9FRE - French (Bonjour! Learning another language)
9HMT - Hard Materials Technology (Woodwork, metalwork, making stuff)
9MUS - Music (Instruments, rhythm, and hopefully no recorders)
9TER - Te Reo Māori (Learning our country's beautiful indigenous language)

Subject Survival Tips: - Always bring your PE gear on PE days. Forgetting it gets old fast - For 9DGT - charge your laptop the night before! - 9FDS tip: Don't eat the ingredients before you start cooking. Just don't - Drama students: Everyone feels awkward at first. That's literally the point - Lost your timetable? Check The Hub app

Teacher Codes - Who's Teaching Me? 👨‍🏫¶

Here are all the teacher codes you might see on your timetable:

ACR, AMA, ARC, BDA, BJB, CCB, CDK, CDZ, CHH, EKW, GAM, JWW, LAH, NJK, NMF, PGM, PJR, REO, RTA, SRO, VAS

Important Teachers to Know:¶

BJB - Your tutor teacher (you'll see this person EVERY DAY for registration)

Teacher Survival Tips: - Learn your teachers' names, not just their codes. They appreciate it - Different teachers have different expectations. Pay attention in the first week - If you're struggling, TELL THEM. Seriously. They can't help if they don't know - Teachers are humans too (shocking, I know). Be respectful and they'll respect you back

Registration (REG) ⏰¶

You'll see REG on your timetable with teacher code BJB. This is your daily check-in time - think of it as your home base. This is where:

You'll get daily notices and information
You'll build your house spirit (go Blake House!)
You'll find out about school events
You can ask questions about basically anything
Your tutor teacher will help you settle in

Registration Survival Tips: - Be on time. Seriously. It's literally the first thing you do each day - This is your chance to ask those "stupid questions" (spoiler: they're not stupid) - Registration is also a good time to sort out any issues from the day before

HAUORA 🌟¶

You'll see HAUORA on your timetable. This is time dedicated to your wellbeing, mental health, and personal development. It's not just another class - it's time invested in YOU.

Topics might include: - Mental health and wellbeing - Building resilience - Relationships and social skills - Goal setting and personal development - Navigating challenges

Hauora Survival Tip: Take this time seriously. The stuff you learn here will help you way beyond just Year 9.

Your Class Streams: DB vs RUG 🏉¶

You might notice that some students are in "DB" classes and others in "RUG" classes. This just refers to different option groups - it doesn't mean anything about your abilities or what you're capable of. Both streams are equally awesome.

What's the difference? - Different combinations of option subjects - Same core subjects - Same high standards - Same opportunities to succeed

Think of it like having vanilla or chocolate ice cream - both are great, just different flavours!

Survival Tips from Students Who've Been There 💡¶

Week One: You WILL get lost. Everyone does. It's a rite of passage. Just laugh it off and ask for directions.
Your Locker:
Remember your combination (write it down somewhere safe)
Don't share your combination with anyone
Organize it at least once a term or it becomes a black hole
Lunch Time:
Find your people. Join a club or sport
The tuckshop gets busy - beat the rush or bring your own lunch
Use lunch breaks wisely - catch up with friends AND do homework if needed
Homework:
Write it down IMMEDIATELY when it's assigned
Little and often beats cramming the night before
Use The Hub to check what's due
Equipment:
Pens die at the worst possible moments. Carry spares
Label EVERYTHING. "But it's mine" doesn't work when 5 people have the same thing
Charge your devices overnight
Asking for Help:
Not understanding something is NORMAL
Teachers expect questions
Your classmates are probably confused too
The library has resources and people who can help
Making Friends:
Be yourself (everyone else is already taken)
Join something - sports, music, drama, chess club, whatever interests you
House events are great for meeting people
Technology:
Save your work frequently (Ctrl+S is your friend)
Keep your laptop charged
Check The Hub regularly for updates

When Things Go Wrong 🆘¶

Because let's be honest, they will:

If you're lost: Ask literally anyone. Seriously. Teachers, older students, the office staff - everyone remembers being new.

If you forgot your PE gear: Tell your teacher BEFORE class. They're more understanding than you think.

If you're struggling with work: Talk to your teacher ASAP. They have office hours, lunch times, and genuinely want you to succeed.

If you're having a rough day: Talk to your tutor teacher (BJB), the school counselor, or a trusted adult. That's what they're there for.

If you accidentally went to the wrong class: Laugh it off, apologize, and head to the right room. We've all done it.

Final Words of Wisdom 🎯¶

Be Kind: To yourself and others. Everyone's figuring this out together.
Get Involved: Join things. Try things. The students having the best time are the ones participating.
Stay Organized: Future you will thank present you for writing things down and keeping track of stuff.
It Gets Easier: By Week 3, you'll feel like a pro. By Term 2, you'll be helping lost Year 9s yourself.
Have Fun: Yes, school is about learning, but it's also about growing, making friends, and creating memories. Don't forget to enjoy the journey.

Quick Reference Checklist ✅¶

Print this out and stick it in your diary:

Welcome to Rathkeale. Welcome to Blake House. Welcome to Year 9.

You've got this. 🚀

Last updated: February 2026 For questions, concerns, or if you just need someone to talk to, see your tutor teacher (BJB) or visit the school office.