IMPORTANT REMINDERS – MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
July 22-26 – Home Band Camp for All Students
July 28 – August 2 – Away Band Camp at W&J
Saturday, August 17th – Production Rehearsal for all students 8AM-4PM
Thursday, August 22nd – Band Parent Meeting 7PM
Tuesday, September 17th – Band Parent Meeting 7PM
Saturday, September 21st – Competition at Norwin HS
Saturday, October 12th – Competition at Mt. Lebanon HS
Thursday, October 17th - Band Parent Meeting 7PM
Saturday, October 19th – BOA Delaware
Saturday, October 26th – PIMBA Championships at Gateway HS
VOLUNTEER SIGN UPS
AWAY BAND CAMP Overnight Chaperones
Away Band Camp Day Volunteers
Away Football Game Volunteers
Home Football Game Volunteers
Competition Volunteers - BOA listed separately
Competition Volunteers - BOA Delaware
AWAY CAMP DONATIONS
Band camp donations sign up genius will be sent out shortly!
AWAY CAMP CANDYGRAMS
Candygrams will once again be available for purchase for band camp. Be on the lookout for an informational email.
FUNDRAISING
HERE is a list of some of the opportunities for fundraising this year.
Also, we are kicking off our first fundraiser, hoagies and pepperoni rolls from J and J!
Forms can be found HERE and attached to this email.
As always if you have any questions please email Hope at fundraising@moonband.org
BAND COMMUNITY.
You can also follow the band organization on the following social channels!
PRIVATE Band Family Facebook Group - Join HERE
Please answer the questions and be sure to choose the ... to manage your notifications so you don't miss any announcements.
PUBLIC Moon Area Band Community Facebook Page HERE
This page is where we share public facing events, awards, programs, and announcements that would interest the community. Your role here is to interact with the content shared here.
PUBLIC @Moonareabands Instagram Account HERE
This account is used to share public facing events, awards, programs, and announcements. And also is used to share fun things the band is doing like practice images, candid photos of the band sharing a day in a life as a band kid.
The kids love seeing and sharing photos shared in Instagram stories and we do encourage them to follow these accounts if they wish to do so.
BAND WEBSITE: moonband.org
CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP/DONATIONS INFORMATION
Do you work or know someone that would be interested in making a donation to help support the Moon Area Marching Band? This year we have a tiered plan for donations. Some of the options are a shout out during a home football game and or a company logo on the back of one of our trailers to all away events. Please reach out to Stephanie Haas VP of Corporate Sponsorships or forward the LETTER onto your contact person. The letter is also attached to this email.
BAND JACKETS – Orders Due Wenesday
The DUE DATE for order/payment of both jackets and patches is WEDNESDAY, JULY 24th. LATE ORDERS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Please see the order HERE in Presto for ordering information. If you need help figuring out what size to order, or have any questions, please contact Kathie Thomas at 412-600-3659 or email uniforms@moonband.org.
SENIOR MEMORIES
Parents of 2025 seniors, send childhood photos of your senior to pictures@moonband.org.
PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO HELP:
If you can help capture photo/video for the band this year, reach out to Ted Merklin pictures@moonband.org.
FUNDRAISING – ARAMARK – PNC/Acrisure/PPG
AUGUST Calendar HERE. Contact Hoda @ aramarkheinzfield@moonband.org or HapHoda2@Aol.com if you are interested in working at PPG Paints Arena or PNC Park or Acrisure Stadium.
STUDENT ACCOUNTS
Contact Ralph at treasurer@moonband.org
TIGER PRIDE YARD SIGNS
Parents and families - the cheer boosters are selling yard signs to show your tiger pride for cheer, football, band, and colorguard. members This year, a portion of the sales will be donated back to MABPO for any band or colorguard signs ordered. Please see the sign below to complete your order and payment. Orders due before August 5th! HERE
BAND DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS: Mr. Nick Barthen
Summer Email #2
Summer email #2 was sent Wednesday, July 10. This email contained information and links to important documents and information.
LINK TO WELCOME LETTER
SUMMER EMAIL #3 will be sent on Friday, July 26, this will have the final away band camp times.
SENIOR POSTER PICTURES
The senior poster pictures will be taken on Friday, July 26 at 7:30AM. This will be taken in uniform. Students should make sure their hair is appropriate. Seniors will still need to attend the Band Picture Day on 8/14.
MANILLA ENVELOPE
At the July 16 rehearsal, an 8”x 12” manilla envelope containing forms will be distributed to students. Please make sure parents and students familiarize themselves with the material inside the packet. Please reference the table below to understand what is in the envelope.
DIETARY/ALLERGY FORM
Please complete the Microsoft Form with your child's Allergies and or dietary restrictions. We will use this for the entire season in order to plan food, snacks, etc.
LINK
BAND HANDBOOK - LINK
The band handbook is available for download on the Presto website in the Presto Files Area as well as linked in the MABPO Newsletter. The band handbook outlines the procedures and protocols that the band and its members follow throughout the entire school year. The Handbook Acknowledgment form and Field Trip Permission Form can be signed electronically. Please click on Forms in Presto to sign
BAND PICTURE DAY
Band Picture Day is Wednesday, August 14, from 8AM-10AM (before freshman orientation) at MAHS.
AWAY BAND CAMP MEDICATION
As of September 2023, if your child will be taking Prescription Medication while at Away Band (either self-medicating or having the Nurse dispense medication) a LICENSED PRESCRIBER ORDER FORM must be signed by the prescriber of the medication, completed and filed to Mr. Barthen for Away Band Camp. We cannot use forms from the previous school year. The form can be found at this Link. Please start early on completing this requirement. As we discovered in February for the Florida Trip, medical offices became cranky when numerous parents requested these signatures with little turnaround time. FORM
PRESTO-ASSISTANT
The band is utilizing a NEW database management system, Presto-Assistant. Every student/parent has an account set up. You will receive a welcome email to the address this email has been sent to set up a PARENT Account. DO NOT SET-UP YOUR STUDENT’S ACCOUNT, their information is already set-up into the system. After you set up your parent account, you will be able to access the site at this web address: https://app.presto-assistant.com/
This site will be used for News, the band calendar, files and handouts for the year, student band financial account information, etc. The calendar is updated frequently and can be synced to your Google/i-cal. Your student's band account will be updated over the next few weeks. Please be patient while we get the system up and running.
FORM CHECKLIST
- MAHS Band First Letter - Presto/E-mail #2 - LINK - Nothing Due/Informational
- Letter from Band Parent President - Presto – LINK - Nothing Due/Informational
- Marching Band Fee Form - Presto & Hard Copy will be provided - LINK - Due 7/22
- Physical Examination Information - Presto & MASD Athletic Website -LINK - Due to ATHLETIC OFFICE BY 7/22
- Chaperone Document - How to volunteer, expectations and clearances needed - LINK - Due 8/5
- Link to Dietary/Allergies - Microsoft Form - LINK - DUE ASAP!!
- Band and Color Guard Shoe Order Form - Presto & Hard Copy will be provided - LINK - Due Monday, July 22
- Band Handbook - LINK
- Band Handbook Agreement Form and Field Trip Permission Form - Hard Copy OR Electronic Submission in PRESTO FORMS TAB - DUE Thursday, July 25
- MAHS BAND Medical Form – completed and signed both sides – Hard Copy Only – will be provided on 7/16 - DUE Thursday, July 25
- MAHS BAND OTC Self Medication Form – Hard Copy Only – will be provided on 7/16 - DUE Thursday, July 25
- PRESCRIBED MEDICATION FORM - Presto and Hard Copy – will be provided on 7/16 - LINK - DUE Sunday, July 28
- MASD Participation Waiver - Presto & Hard Copy – will be provided on 7/16 - LINK - DUE Thursday, July 25
- MASD Transportation Waiver - Presto & Hard Copy – will be provided on 7/16 - LINK - Due Thursday, July 25
ADVICE FOR REHEARSAL SHOES FOR MARCHING BAND
The second thing I suggest is to purchase a good pair of shoes. Whatever brand you favor, make sure they are supportive, have a cushion, and have some sort of arch. Converse Chuck Taylor’s or a shoe that does not support the arch or have a cushion is not going to be favorable for how we ask your students to perform. Here is a link to the top 10 favorable marching rehearsal shoes from the Marching Health people. https://www.marchinghealth.com/uncategorized/marching-healths-top-shoes-for-drum-corps-in-2024/ And most importantly, make sure they wear the shoe to break them in before coming to their first rehearsal.
EXCUSES FOR NOT ATTENDING REHEARSAL
If a student must miss a rehearsal, an e-mail or written note from THE PARENT is required. Microsoft Teams chats or student e-mails are not valid forms of excuses.
MARCHING TUTORIAL VIDEOS
These videos will cover the basics of marching, please have your child review these videos. If your child is absent at the June 3-5 rehearsals, they should learn the content on this page.
Click the Link for the Table of Contents of Videos - LINK
Marching Band Microsoft TEAMS
Every member of the Marching Band has been invited into a Microsoft Team. Winds (Brass/Woodwinds), Color Guard, and Percussion have their separate TEAM. These Teams will be utilized to send music and student reminders during the season. Please have your child check their MS TEAMS and turn notifications ON. We will be uploading additional music throughout the month of June and July. If your child has not received a notification to join, please e-mail Mr. Barthen (winds & color guard) or Mr. Fear (percussion).
24/25 MARCHING BAND PHYSICAL
As per MASD Policy, marching band members must have a complete athletic physical on file with the Athletic Department to participate in the Marching Band. Information is below for scheduling a physical through the school district. The form that the district uses is LINKED HERE
As per the PIAA, sports physicals are now permitted to be completed on or after May 1st. Students must bring Sections 5 & 6 to their sports physical.
Students can also choose to complete their sports physical with their own PCP or an urgent care center.
2024 Marching Band Fall Performance Schedule
Friday Football Performances
- Fri. August 23 - Home vs. Trinity HS
- Fri. August 30 - Home vs. Aliquippa HS
- Fri. Sept. 6 - Away vs Penn-Trafford HS
- Fri. Sept. 13 - Home vs. West Allegheny HS
- Fri. Sept. 20 - Away vs. Seneca Valley HS
- Fri. Sept. 27 - Away vs. Bethel Park HS
- Fri. Oct. 4 - Home vs. Peters Twp HS - Homecoming
- Fri. Oct. 11 - Away vs. Baldwin HS
- Fri. Oct. 18 - Away vs. USC HS
- Fri. Oct. 25 - Home vs. South Fayette HS - Senior Recognition Night
Saturday Performance Schedule
- Saturday, September 21 - Local Band Competition at Norwin HS
- Saturday, October 12 - Local Band Competition at Mt. Lebanon
- Saturday, October 19 - BOA Delaware
- Saturday, October 26 - PIMBA Championships at Gateway HS
BOA Delaware - 10/19-20/2024
The Marching Band will be traveling to the University of Delaware to compete in the Bands of America Mid-Atlantic Regional on October 19-20, 2024. This will be an overnight trip. Please mark your calendars.
Important Upcoming Dates
July 22-26 - Home Band Camp for All
July 28 - August 2 - Away Band Camp at W&J
August 17 - Production Rehearsal for All - 8AM-4PM
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLEARANCES
MABPO has no connection to MASD's Applitrack, therefore a digital or physical copy of the clearance needs to be submitted the MABPO secretary. Clearances can be emailed to: Kelli Bookbinder - secretary@moonband.org
Note: If the child's last name differs from the parent sending the clearances, please point that out in the email.
Per the updated MASD policy, Clearances are valid for 5 years
Under PA Law Act 153, The State of Pennsylvania is requiring all adults who volunteer in any capacity within the school to obtain background checks. This will include parents who volunteer to chaperone the MAHS Marching Band at football games, parades, band camps, and trips. Chaperones are required to complete the PA State Police Criminal Background Check, Child Abuse History, and FBI Fingerprints. The FBI Fingerprint is only if the volunteer has not been a state of PA resident for at least 10 years. Please visit http://www.keepkidssafe.pa.gov for additional information.
OR follow the steps below:
Child Abuse Clearance click HERE
1. Cost: Free
2. Create the account
3. Submit the required information
4. Print certificate and submit to MABPO Secretary
PA Criminal Background Check click HERE
1. Cost: Free
2. Click on "NEW RECORD CHECK" (Volunteers Only)
3. After the record check is complete, click on the blue control number
4. To view the certificate, click on the blue words "Certification Form"
5. Print the certificate and submit to the MABPO Secretary
FBI Fingerprinting click HERE
use service code 1KG6XN
Contact secretary@moonband.org if you have any questions about clearances.
Check out Moon Band on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/moonareabands
Questions, comments or suggestions contact communications@moonband.org