School Counseling

At Hoban, we care about the intellectual, spiritual and physical well-being of every student.

The student services office makes it possible for students to grow in all of these areas aligning with our mission and True to You motto. As a Holy Cross school, Hoban nurtures the hearts and educates the minds of students.

High school is full of challenges, and the student services office supports students every step of the way. Each student has an assigned school and college counselor to assist in their academic journey and personal growth throughout their four years at Hoban. School counselors work with students and parents to assist with career planning, plan academic tracks, provide emotional support, offer study-skills training and other academic guidance.

The student services staff consists of four experienced school counselors, two college and career counselors, and a school psychologist. Hoban offers a range of opportunities for students, including the faculty-guided student achievement seminar, intervention specialists and professional tutoring.

Read Cleveland Magazine's article about Hoban's priority on students' mental health

A four-year plan: goals, services and programs

Freshman Year

The freshman year at Hoban is a time of transition and self-discovery. Freshmen face the challenge of adjusting to an increase in responsibility and independence at the same time. They are also experiencing excitement and nervousness about being at a new school, making new friends, taking challenging college prep courses and participating in a variety of clubs and teams. Support is offered to each student for these transitional issues through diverse guidance services and programs provided by the freshman counselors.

Among these programs is a special group of students called the Peer Mentors. The school counselors train and utilize these upperclassmen to help support the freshmen and sophomores through their unique experiences. The Peer Mentors offer freshman class events to help build class unity, classroom time to seek guidance and discuss a variety of issues and topics, and study sessions for both winter and spring exams.

Goals of the Freshman Year

To welcome all new students
To foster independence, academic and personal responsibility, and a positive self-identity within each student.

Freshman Year Services and Programs

Freshman orientation
Activities fair (first quarter)
Classroom Guidance: “Identity-Fitting In” (second quarter)
PSAT for freshmen in honors math or English
Classroom Guidance: “Preparing for Exams / Your High School Transcript” with peer mentors (second quarter)
Cookies, Cocoa and Cram sponsored by peer mentors: study session for semester exams (second quarter)
Greenleaf Presentations (second quarter)
Individual student meetings (first quarter)
Anti-bullying unit through health classes
Classroom Guidance: "Academic Planning/Registration" (third quarter)
Registration for upcoming freshmen (third quarter)
Classroom Guidance: "My Future Plans" SCOIR Introduction
Classroom Guidance: “Be Happy" (third quarter)
Classroom Guidance: TBD (fourth quarter)

Sophomore Year

Sophomore year can be a time of great change for students. As they mature both academically and personally, they can encounter conflict and uncertainty. They will discover more about themselves as learners and develop strategies for meeting their unique learning needs. During sophomore year, students will begin their career exploration process. They will identify specific areas of interest and examine these interests based on their individual strengths and weaknesses.

Goals of the Sophomore Year

To identify one’s personal learning style and develop strategies to accommodate that learning style so as to promote academic success
To complete a self-assessment of interests, skills, strengths and weaknesses
To identify several potential career goals and articulate the path needed to achieve those identified goals
To develop skills in standardized testing and prepare for college admissions tests (SAT, ACT)

Sophomore Year Services and Programs

Age-appropriate guidance lessons are provided to assist students in reaching developmental milestones in academic, personal/social, and career areas. Care is taken to guide students toward continued success at Hoban and toward their personal goals through small groups and individual counseling sessions.

The following programs are prepared for sophomores

Classroom Guidance: “Stress Management” (first quarter)
PSAT for sophomores in Honors Mat or English or students who choose to register (first quarter)
Classroom Guidance: Choices regarding drugs and alcohol (first quarter)
Junior Leadership Akron: Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Conference: Sophomores complete applications from which committee chooses a representative and alternate. (second quarter)
Individual check-in meetings with school counselor (second quarter)
Pre-ACT testing for all sophomores: practice for the ACT and Career Interest Inventory (third quarter)
Cookies, Cocoa & Cram sponsored by Peer Mentors- study session for semester exams (second quarter)
Classroom Guidance: “Exploring your strengths and interests and career exploration" SCOIR (third quarter)
Classroom Guidance: “PSAT and Pre-ACT Interpretation: Getting the Most Out of Your Results” (third quarter)
Classroom Guidance: "Healthy Relationships" (third quarter)
Classroom Guidance: TBD (fourth quarter)
Preparation of course recommendations/ application for honors courses (third quarter)
Classroom Guidance: “Registration and Planning for the Future” (third quarter)
Classroom Guidance: “Making the Transition to Junior Year” (fourth quarter)

Junior Year

The junior year is a time to focus on future options and to prepare for college and career choices.

Students become familiar with the standardized college testing programs beginning with the PSAT in October, and continuing with taking the SAT/ACT beginning in the fourth quarter. At the end of the junior year, students will have an idea of what their next steps towards determining their future will be. They will have considered possible colleges to which they will apply at the beginning of their senior year.

Goals of the Junior Year

To assist students in their personal, academic, and career development
To be available to parents and to confer with them regarding concerns involving students
To be available to students who seek individual counseling
To prepare students for college admissions standardized testing

Junior Year Services and Programs

College and Career Counselors prepare juniors with information regarding resumes, SCOIR, college and career search tools, junior management prep. (S1)
Testing: discuss and advise students as to the appropriate college admissions test they should take: ACT, SAT or both. All juniors take the ACT at Hoban (third quarter).
Visit classrooms to present information on dealing with stress related to academics, college and career planning, utilizing SCOIR to record activities, awards, for resume' and future planning.
Meet individually with each junior and their parents to discuss career and college plans

Senior Year

The senior year is a time to apply to colleges and prepare for other career choices.

At the beginning of their senior year the senior counselor will begin meeting with seniors to discuss plans for the future. Services vary depending on the needs of the individual student, and could include helping develop lists of colleges, advising future life goals or helping a student meet graduation requirements. The senior counselor helps with scholarship applications and securing placement in college throughout the year. The goal is to make sure all graduates are ready to go to the next step in their lives.

Goals of the Senior Year

To assist students in their personal, academic, and career development
To be available to parents and to confer with them regarding concerns involving students
To be available to students who seek individual counseling
To prepare students for the college admissions process
To help students apply to the colleges of their choice

Senior Year Services and Programs

Review proper credits for graduation
Review proper courses for admission to college
Coordinate college representative visits. (first quarter)
Distribute and review college application procedures via English 12 classes (first quarter)
Hold parent college planning and financial aid meeting (first quarter)
Process college applications for seniors (first-third quarters)
Provide Help in completing the FAFSA by using the resources of a local college
Write letters of recommendation. (first-third quarters)
Assist students and parents with college scholarship applications and financial aid in general. (first–fourth quarters)
Testing: discuss and advise students as to the appropriate college admissions test they should take: ACT, SAT or both. Discuss test results of ACT/SAT (first–fourth quarters)
Coordinate lists of seniors who qualify for various awards. (Ohio Department of Education Award of Merit, President's Award of Educational Excellence, President's Award of Educational Improvement) (fourth quarter)

School Counselors

STUDENT LAST NAMES
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Jennifer Spiker

School Counselor

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Molly Doenges

School Counselor

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Amirah Rahieem

School Counselor

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Katie Surface

School Counselor

Mental Health Counseling

Hoban offers professional mental health counseling to students. A clinical counselor from Red Oak Behavioral Health is available to meet with students during regular school hours.

The counseling services that they provide are not in place of those available from your school counselor. These services are intended to provide an easier way for students to access mental health counseling for on-going issues and concerns.

Referrals for mental health counseling will be requested through your student’s Hoban school counselor. If you have questions or would like to inquire about setting up these services for your student, please contact your student’s school counselor for more details.

Learn more about Hoban's Wellness Program

Allison Ryan

School Therapist