IMPORTANT DATES – MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Tuesday, March 3 - All-District Music Concert
Monday, May 4 - Percussion Ensemble Concert
Thursday, May 14 - MAHS Spring Band Concert
Friday, May 15 - MAHS Spring Jazz Concert
Monday, May 25 - Sewickley Memorial Day Parade
Friday, June 5 - MAHS Graduation - All Band & Orchestra Students Perform
REMINDERS:
Dine to Donate: Next Monday, Jan 19, grab a meal from Panera Bread on University Blvd. Enter the code “FUND4U” on the kiosk or your mobile order and a portion of your sale will be donated to the band’s general fund. Thank you in advance!!
Assistance Needed with Senior Memory Books
Contact Ted Merklin (pictures@moonband.org) if you'd be able to help out!
Pictures: Parents who wish to contribute some of their own pictures from the stands or other interactions are welcome to do so at this link. Please note that contributions will be reviewed prior to posting in the SmugMug gallery. Please take a moment to consider your contributions and make sure they are bright enough, clear, and do not upload excessive variations of the same picture. If you wish to participate in more robust media coverage, contact Ted Merklin (pictures@moonband.org) to discuss.
FUNDRAISING
If you have any questions, please email Hope at fundraising@moonband.org.
FUNDRAISING – ARAMARK – PNC/Acrisure/PPG
If you are interested in working games and events at Acrisure Stadium to raise funds for your band student, please email Heather Park at hburakow@yahoo.com.
STUDENT ACCOUNTS
The FINAL payment of $452 for a quad or $507 for a double was due on January 9th. The balance for all trips must be $0 in order to attend. Please email Maria at treasurer@moonband.org if you have questions.
BAND DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS: Mr. Barthen
PEP BAND FOR GIRLS BASKETBALL GAME
We have been asked to perform as a Pep Band for one of the two Girls Basketball games on Thu. 1/22 or Thu. 1/29. Please fill out the availability form for these dates. PEP BAND FOR MAHS GIRLS BASKETBALL GAME - THU. JAN 22 OR THU. JAN 29 – Fill out form
Music Major Seminar - Thursday, January 15 - 7pm - HS LGI
MASD Music Department will hold their music major seminar on Thursday, 1/15 at 7pm in the HS LGI. This is for students in grades 7-12 who are thinking about a career in any of the music fields. Guest speakers will be professors from Duquesne University. Students and/or Parents are invited to attend.
FLORIDA UPDATES - PLEASE READ AND PAY ATTENTION TO DEADLINES AND DATES. YOUR FAILURE TO MEET DEADLINES WILL CAUSE YOUR CHILD TO BE LEFT OUT OF DISNEY PLANS! Deadlines are planned around items we must submit to our vendors.
*** BE ON THE LOOKOUT - MANILLA FOLDERS WITH FORMS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED IN CLASS SOMETIME THIS WEEK (1/14-1/16)
In case you did not receive the email I sent on 12/18, please click LINK
FINAL payment was due January 9!!
FLORIDA GROUPS
Students should sign-up for Florida Chaperone Groups by January 16, 2026. This was posted on the FLA Teams on 12/19. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4EAEAB2DA7F5C70-61347324-2026
The purpose/objective of these groups are as follows:
- Assist with check-ins at the parks
- Assist with check-ins at breakfast
- Distribute tickets/meal cards at the parks
- Distribute tickets at the airport
- Walking around in the park if your behavior and maturity is not acceptable.
- Assist with accountability during bus transfers to and from the parks
- Each group will have 15 students and assigned one adult.
Groups will be filled to the quota. You should sign up with someone you will be walking around the parks with while in Florida. This will make for easier check-ins for your friend group.
THIS MUST BE COMPLETED BY JANUARY 16, 2026
Mandatory Parent Trip Meeting - Tuesday, February 3 - 6:30pm - MAHS CAFETERIA
As per MASD Policy, the mandatory trip meeting for parents will be held on Tuesday, 2/3 at 6:30pm in the HS CAFETERIA. Overview of policies and expectations regarding the trip will be reviewed. A parent or parent representative (grandparent, aunt, uncle, or sibling (over the age of 21 and who can sign for the student)) must attend the parent meeting. Students are encouraged to attend the meeting but not required.
MARCHING BAND REHEARSAL FOR FLORIDA PARADE – TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10 – 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
We will hold one rehearsal for the Marching Band Florida Parade. This is a mandatory rehearsal to be eligible to attend the trip. We will hold this rehearsal in the High School Gyms.
LICENSED PRESCRIBER ORDER FORM
When the band travels overnight (Away Band Camp, BOA Trips, and Florida), medication which is prescribed by a licensed prescriber and the student is either self-medicating or medication is dispensed by the trip nurse, must have a Licensed Prescriber Order on file with the Band Trip Nurse. This form must be signed by the Licensed Prescriber. One form must be completed for each prescribed medication. These forms are valid for the entire school year, if you submitted a medicine to take to away band camp in August, then it will be valid for the Florida Trip. LINK TO PRESCRIBER FORM
FLA MUSIC MEMORIZATION TESTING - February 2-6
Music has been posted to the Microsoft Florida Teams page. Please have your child begin to memorize these two pieces of music. If music is not memorized successfully, they will not be permitted to attend the trip.
ADDITIONAL FLORIDA DATES
February 3 – 6:30 pm - Mandatory Florida Trip Parent Meeting
February 10 – 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm - Mandatory Marching Band Rehearsal for Florida
1 rehearsal only. Everyone must attend, or not attend the trip.
February 17 - Luggage load and Check – beginning at 6:30 PM (times staggered by last names)
February 19 – Depart via school bus
February 21 - Marching Band performance at Magic Kingdom
February 23 – Return to MAHS via school bus
Jazz Band Sign-ups - LINK
Please have your child complete the linked form above
Rehearsals will be mostly on Tuesdays, a couple on Thursdays.
A complete rehearsal/performance calendar will be distributed once personnel is known.
There will not be an audition for this year.
Rehearsals begin on Tuesday, 1/20
Pit Orchestra Sign-ups
Sign-ups have been posted in the band room for the pit orchestra for the spring musical.
Please have your child scan the QR hung up in the band room ASAP!
2026/2027 Marching Band Summer Dates
July 21-23 - Guard (5-9pm), Wind (5-9pm), and Percussion (8AM-3PM) Camps
July 27-31 - Home Band Camp
August 2-7 - Away Band Camp
August 15 - Production Rehearsal
UPCOMING DATES
Mon. Jan. 12 - Winter Color Guard Rehearsal - 6-9pm - MAMS Aux Gym
Tue. Jan. 13 -
Wed. Jan. 14 -
Thu. Jan. 15 - Music Major Seminar - 7PM - MAHS LGI
Fri. Jan. 16 - Winter Color Guard Rehearsal - 6:30 - 10pm - MAMS Aux Gym
Mon. Jan. 19 - Winter Color Guard Rehearsal - 6-9pm - MAMS Aux Gym
Tue. Jan. 20 - Jazz Band Rehearsal - 2:20 - 3:45PM - HS Band Room
Wed. Jan. 21 -
Thu. Jan. 22 -
Fri. Jan. 23 - Winter Color Guard Rehearsal - 6:30 - 10pm - MAMS Aux Gym
Mon. Jan. 26 - Winter Color Guard Rehearsal - 6-9pm - MAMS Aux Gym
Tue. Jan. 27 - Symphonic Band to Middle School for 8th Grade Concert - Periods 1, 2, 3
Jazz Band Rehearsal - 2:20 - 3:45PM - HS Band Room
Wed. Jan. 28 -
Thu. Jan. 29 -
Fri. Jan. 30 - Winter Color Guard Rehearsal - 6:30 - 10pm - MAMS Aux Gym
Sat. Jan. 31 - Winter Guard Show at Deer Lakes HS - Time TBD by show schedule
Mon. Feb. 2 - Winter Color Guard Rehearsal - 6-9pm - MAMS Aux Gym
Tue. Tue. Feb. 3 - FLA Parent Meeting - 6:30pm
Wed. Feb. 4 -
Thu. Feb. 5 - PMEA District Band at South Park HS
Fri. Feb. 6 - FLA Forms are Due
PMEA District Band at South Park HS
Winter Color Guard Rehearsal - 6:30 - 10pm - MAMS Aux Gym
Sat. Feb. 7 - PMEA District Band at South Park HS
Future Events
Tuesday, March 3 - All-District Music Concert - Symphonic Band to perform
Monday, May 4 - High School Percussion Ensemble Concert
Thursday, May 14 - High School Spring Band Concert
Friday, June 5 - Graduation - All HS Instrumental Students Perform
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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: Rachel Jones - 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
