Farewell Haka for Mr. John Adams

Mr. John Adams Retires

At assembly this morning we bid farewell to Mr. John Adams, the school Guidance Counsellor, who is retiring from teaching. Mr. Adams is moving to Nelson to be closer to his family so that he can dedicate more of his time to them.

Mr. Adams has provided thirty years of dedicated service to Palmerston North Boys’ High School and the young men who attend this school. Mr. Adams was appointed to a long term relief position teaching science and agriculture in February 1986 and gained a permanent position as a teacher of science and physics in June 1986. He was the Year 10 Dean from 1989 – 1993, the Assistant Head of the Science Department from July 1990 – December 1992, and the Head of the Physics Department from 1992 – 1997.

In 1998 Mr. Adams was appointed as the Head of the Science Department, a key leadership position in the school, and one he held until the end of 2004. He was awarded a Royal Society Teacher Fellowship in 2001, when he spent time at Massey University researching renewable energy sources. This fellowship recognised the high esteem with which Mr. Adams was held in the physics and science teaching fraternities in New Zealand and the outstanding results students he taught had achieved over a long period of time.

In 2005 Mr. Adams was appointed as the school Guidance Counsellor, a position he has held until now. In order to fulfill this position Mr. Adams was required to complete a counselling qualification, a Master of Counselling, which he did in 2007, having been selected to receive a teacher study award.