Middle Gate Honors Music Teacher

By Nancy K. Crevier

A playground and schoolyard filled with children is not such an unusual sight, but a playground with an upright piano parked next to it certainly is. But Monday, June 18, was not just a usual day at Middle Gate School. It was, as Principal Judy Liestman said in her opening remarks to the schoolwide gathering clustered about the third grade playground, “A special day of tribute for a very special teacher.”

After 40 years as the Middle Gate School music teacher, including some years that included music programs at Sandy Hook and Head O’ Meadow Schools, Joan Popovic is retiring from the Newtown School System. Seated at a table with her husband, Milorad Popovic, and surrounded by other members of her family, Mrs Popovic was the center of attention Monday afternoon as former students, staff members, and the entire school lauded her many years of inspiration and encouragement.

“I appreciate this tribute,” said Mrs Popovic, in brief remarks to the crowd. “Many of you are ‘grandstudents’ of mine,” referring to the fact that many parents there had been former students, as had some of the present day Middle Gate staff.

Eric Bagger, a student at the Conservatory of Music, Brooklyn, and a former Middle Gate student, spoke of his love of music and how his elementary school music instructor, Mrs Popovic, has been a pillar of support for him throughout his musical career.

As with any good party, along with speakers there was a cake, gifts, popsicles for everyone, and of course, music.

From the tiny voices of the kindergarten classes quietly singing “There’s a Little Wheel A-Turnin’” to the fourth graders belting out “The Middle Gate Round,” each grade serenaded the music teacher. Following a presentation of “Ode To Joy” from the first grade classes, the second grade offered “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Mrs Popovic then made use of the piano parked on the blacktop to accompany a rousing rendition of “I Sing The Body Electric,” performed by the third grade.

The afternoon of accolades was not yet over, though. “Over the Sea to Sky,” a favorite song of the longtime teacher, soared over the sea of people and up to the sunny sky as the NHS Singers under the direction of Newtown High School music teacher John Harned arrived to contribute their musical praise to Mrs Popovic.

Culminating the event was the presentation of a gift from the entire school body to Mrs Popovic, presented by lead teacher Judith Beers.

“I’ll still be seeing the kids around town, I’m sure,” said Mrs Popovic. “And I’ll have time to teach private piano lessons, now.”

“It was nice to have a retirement party that wasn’t in a restaurant or someplace like that,” said kindergarten teacher Dorothy Schmidt, following the ceremony. “This is what Mrs Popovic wanted. She wanted all of the kids to be here.”