Moon Area Band ~ October 21, 2024

IMPORTANT REMINDERS – MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Friday, October 25^th – Football – Home vs. South Fayette HS – Senior Rec Night 
Saturday, October 26^th – PIMBA Championships at Gateway HS
Tuesday, October 29^th – Trunk or Treat
Thursday, November 14^th - Band Parent Meeting 7PM
Thursday, December 12^th - Band Parent Meeting 7PM
Sunday, December 15^th – Pancake Breakfast and Cookie Walk
Wednesday, December 18^th – Winter Band Concert

BOA Thank you
Thank you to all of our volunteers this weekend.
Uniforms team, truck crew, chaperones, medical staff, truck drivers, photographers and staff all helped tremendously to make this weekend a smooth success.
Tina and DJ Foremsky
Shawn Rosensteel
Debbie Walker
Edgardo and Sarah Schmitz
Amy and Jay Patterson
Eric and Stephanie Haas
Matt and Hope Lepczyk
Mason Withee
Hoda Lichwala
Robyn Neft
Rachel Jones
Kelli Bookbinder
Linda Konley
Chris Grimes
Maria Sacherich
Kathie Thomas
Heather Park
Gail Bischoff
Megan Feeser
Ted Merklin
A special Thank you to Elena Jones who arranged and organized the stay with the hotel in Delaware.  She was instrumental in the planning and communication with the hotel to make sure it all ran smoothly.
Also, thank you to Mr. & Mrs. Balaski for their help at the hotel.
 
Football Volunteer Thank you
A huge thank you to the volunteers who helped out Friday night’s away game!
Kelli Bookbinder
Linda Konley
Natalie Wolfe
Megan Feeser
Asha Sharma
Pamela White
Kari Coulter
Eric Fogle
Kathryn Fogle
Danielle Mcpherson
Gail Bischoff
Ben Sacherich
Tina Foremsky
Meghan Aitken
Johanna Brown
Kim Joyce

SMUG MUG REMINDER
Reminder to submit your photos from the football games and competitions.  These will be uploaded to the site for the Band Parents to share and enjoy. Send to pictures@moonband.org or contact Ted to submit.
Photos and Videos of the many events, fundraisers, and competitions can be found on our photo site.  https://moon-instrumental.smugmug.com/
Passwords are in the email.

MABPO Parent/Volunteers-Photo
This is an invitation to anyone who has volunteered this season – concessions, sewing, uniforms, chaperones, truck crew, drivers, medical crew, senior rec, etc. to come to the student entrance Thursday 10/24 at 6:00PM.  We will be taking a group photo of MABPO to replace the one that’s been on our website since 2016.  Be sure to wear your Moon Area Marching Band Tiger pride!

SENIOR NIGHT - OCTOBER 25
Donations are needed for the Senior Night reception.  Donations can be dropped off before practice on Thursday October 24 at the Natatorium entrance or on Friday October 25 at 4:00 at the High School Cafeteria. Please sign up at Senior Night Donations
Volunteers are needed to set up before the event at 3:00 and afterwards at 5:30. Senior parents will be participating in the evening and will not be able to volunteer. Please sign up at Senior Night Volunteers
If you have any questions, please reach out to Keri Merklin at seniorrec@moonband.org

Senior Parents
The reception will begin at 4:30 and include light refreshments as well as pictures. Senior members will be recognized during halftime of the football game. Parents will sit with the band during the first half of the game. Following the halftime recognition, parents are welcome to continue to sit with the band or may sit in the stands. Please reach out to seniorrec@moonbang.org if you have any questions.

VOLUNTEER SIGN UPS
Home Football Game Volunteers
Competition Volunteers - BOA listed separately

Volunteers needed
If anyone would be interested in heading up the raffle baskets for the pancake breakfast to please let Amy know president@moonband.org . Volunteers can work in groups, a couple of friends, a husband and wife, or someone solo.

FUNDRAISING
Pickup for Pizza Kits, popcorn and coffee is this Wednesday, October 23 at The Student Entrance Lobby! from 5:00 to 6:00. Also if anyone is able to help srt at 4:30, please email me. I appreciate any and all help!

Sarris Candy and Tumblers are now able to be sold. Please read the instruction sheets for both attached to the email. Sarris Candy brochures will be in the band room tomorrow night or you can print what is attached. Both will be due back to the band room mailbox on November15 with delivery December 13. 
If you have questions contact Hope at fundraising@moonband.org

FUNDRAISING – ARAMARK – PNC/Acrisure/PPG 
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
Reminder for those on the payment plan that the fourth payment of $100 is due October 25th.  For questions contact Ralph at treasurer@moonband.org

November 22^nd – 5^th payment
December 20 – final payment

BAND DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS:  Mr. Nick Barthen
TINERARY FOR October 25 - Football vs. South Fayette HS - LINK - Report 5:30 - Seniors at 4:20 in uniforms for pictures
PIMBA Championships at Gateway HS - LINK - Report time is 2:00PM; Performance is 7:45PM

Parents Guide to Marching Band Competition - LINK

TRUNK OR TREAT – 10/29 – It is a tradition to decorate parent’s vehicles and pass out candy to the kid’s ala trick-or treating around the neighborhoods/cars.  Students will dress-up for rehearsal, and trunk-or treat.  This will begin at 7:15pm in the MS PARKING LOT/PRACTICE FIELD.  To make candy plans, we have 110 students in the marching band!

WPIAL Football Play-offs – The football team may qualify for the WPIAL post-season.  The full band will travel in support of the team. Games will be Friday during the WPIAL play-offs.  REHEARSALS AND GAMES/PERFORMANCES WILL BE GRADED EVENTS.  Plans will be forwarded as soon as they are known.  The band will rehearse once a week (Tue. OR Thu. pending weather from 6pm-7:00pm while the team is in the play-offs.

IMPORTANT – Hoodies at Rehearsals – As the weather begins to turn colder, please make sure students are bringing appropriate clothing to rehearsal.  Students are not permitted to wear the hood part of a hoodie or ski masks during rehearsal or performances.  The hood and/or ski mask impair peripheral vision and is a safety issue.  Students are encouraged to wear hats, tossle hats, beanies etc.  Students are able to bring warmer clothing items.  HOODIES ARE NEVER PERMITTED UNDERNEATH THE UNIFORMS!

PARENT REMIND 101 - In the past, our old Band management app allowed the directors to text parents with updates when we traveled. Presto does not have that feature yet. I have created a Remind 101 group for parents. I will use this app (instead of email) when the band travels to update parents on our return times and other updates. STUDENTS SHOULD NOT JOIN THIS GROUP!   Text 81010        Class Code: @f782h8g

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. 

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.   

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. 
 
PLEASE NOTE: If a student is absent when the group is learning drill, the student must learn the missed material on their own.  We do not have time to reteach material due to absences.  The student will be held out of the production until they have shown competency on the segment.
 
2024 Marching Band Saturday Performance Schedule

• Saturday, October 26 - PIMBA Championships at Gateway HS – Report time is 2:00PM at MS Parking Lot