Moon Area Band ~ July 28, 2025

IMPORTANT REMINDERS – MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
July 28 - August 1 - Home Band Camp for ALL
August 3 - 8 - Away Band Camp at W&J
August 16 - Production Rehearsal for All - 8AM-4PM
Saturday, September 13 - Local Show at Baldwin HS
Saturday, October 4 - Local Show at Mt. Lebanon HS
Saturday, October 18 - PIMBA Championships at Deer Lakes HS
Saturday, October 25 - BOA Regional at U of Delaware
Wednesday, December 17 - MAHS Winter Band Concert
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

Candy Grams

As we get ready for a week at away camp, we wanted to give you the opportunity to send your child a “candy gram”. The week at camp can be long and exhausting, but you can pick a treat and send a note to encourage your child (or others) while they are away. Please fill out a separate form for each student you want to send a candy gram to. Please send pre-orders to the band mailbox before Friday, August 1. A table will be available at check-in for band camp. See attached form. 
BAND JACKETS-LAST CALL TO ORDER!!!

It’s BAND JACKET AND VARSITY LETTER ORDER TIME!  Anyone who has completed 1 year in marching band is eligible to purchase a jacket.  Please see the order form HERE for ordering information.  If you need help figuring out what size to order, or have any questions, please contact Heather Park at 717-903-1225 or email uniforms@moonband.org. Sample jackets sizes S-2XL are available for students to try this week in the band room. 

Students may also purchase varsity letters only (for a fee of $8) if they wish to place them on a jacket already purchased through another activity or sport. The DUE DATE for order/payment of both jackets and patches is WEDNESDAY, JULY 30th.  LATE ORDERS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. 

Sponsorships 2025

Please consider distributing the attached sponsorship letter to local businesses you may frequent or a company that you work for so that we may increase our sponsorships for the upcoming year. Our past sponsors have already been contacted. If you have any questions, you can reach out to Stephanie Haas at Woogitrae@gmail.com  Please send me an email with the company or group you plan to contact so that we don't bombard them with multiple copies.

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.

FUNDRAISING

Welcome to the start of another year!! Attached is the summary of the fundraisers we have on the calendar so far this year. Hoagie sales start today, see the attached paperwork for details. September lottery tickets will be in the mail this week, so keep an eye out for them! 

If you have any questions, please email Hope at fundraising@moonband.org

First Dine to Donate

Tuesday, July 29 is the First Dine to Donate at Mike and Tony’s - Please bring the attached flyer.

STUDENT ACCOUNTS
For questions contact Maria at treasurer@moonband.org
 

BAND DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS:  Mr. Barthen

AWAY BAND CAMP ROOM SIGN-UPS 

A link has been posted on the students' Microsoft Team pages to sign-up with their roommates for a room at Away Band Camp.  PLEASE ASK YOUR STUDENT WHO THEY ARE ROOMING WITH!!  If there are any questions, please contact Mr. Barthen.

AWAY BAND CAMP MEDICATION

Medication for Away Band Camp will be checked on Sunday, August 3 by the Trip Nurse.  Please have ALL medication in a gallon Zip Lock Bag with both the Self Medication Form and Prescribers Form (If Applicable).  If you have already turned that form in to Mr. Barthen, the Nurse will have it on Sunday to reference.  Even if your child is not taking any medication to band camp, please turn the self-medication form in with their name on the top and an "X" across the entire page.

REMINDER: ONLY UNOPENED PACKAGES/CONTAINERS OF OTC MEDICATION IS ACCEPTED.  No open bottles of OTC Medication are permitted.

AWAY BAND CAMP EMAIL - A reference email will be sent Friday (8/1) evening of final details and packing lists for Away Band Camp.  Please reference the Away Band Camp Section of the Band Handbook.

CHAPERONE MARCHING BAND EVENTS – DUE MONDAY, AUGUST 4 - LINK TO CHAPERONE SIGN-UP

The MAHS Marching Band relies upon many parent volunteers to make our band travel down the road.  We need around 8-10 parent chaperones for every event.  We will be soliciting these volunteers electronically via Sign-up Genius during the week of July 21, the link is posted above.  Please see the Chaperone document linkedHEREor in Presto website under My Files Tab for an outline of the expectations and how register for each event.

Under PA Law Act 153, all adults who are requesting to volunteer must submit 2 and/or 3 clearances.  The process is outlined on the Chaperone document. Please download the Clearance Guidelines located on the Chaperone Document form for clarification and directions.  Electronic clearances should be submitted to the MABPO Secretary, Mrs. Rachel Jones at secretary@moonband.org.

COLOR GUARD, PERCUSSION AND WIND MINI-CAMP – July 22-24 - If you are in town, you are expected to attend!

Mini-Camps for the Color Guard, Percussion and Wind sections will be held on July 22-24 (check the calendar for specific times). If you are in town, and not on vacation, your child should attend these camps. 

MEMBERS SHOULD WEAR APPROPRIATE CLOTHING TO ALL REHEARSALS – NO FLIP-FLOPS/SANDALS. BRING WATER!!

HOME BAND CAMP – July 28 - August 1 - MANDATORY ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED

Home Band Camp is scheduled for July 28 – August 1 from 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM for Woodwinds, Brass and Percussion Members; 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM for Color Guard Members. 

WE WILL HAVE A FULL BAND REHEARSAL ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 1.  Color Guard members as well as the Woodwinds, Brass and Percussion will report from 8AM-3PM on Friday, August 1. 

Rehearsals will take place at the High School.  Students will be responsible for bringing or buying their own lunch.  Students may leave campus for their lunch break.  Lunch will run from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.  Proper summer attire is required, shorts, light colored t-shirts, etc.  FLIP-FLOPS OR SANDALS MAY NOT BE WORN TO THESE REHEARSALS! 

Please be sure to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, etc.  We will be outside!  Water breaks will be given as needed and determined by the weather.  THE BAND WILL NOT PROVIDE WATER AT REHEARSALS.  ALL STUDENTS SHOULD BRING AT LEAST A ONE HALF (1/2) GALLON OF WATER TO EVERY REHEARSAL.  STAY AWAY FROM CARBONATED BEVERAGES and make sure you EAT BREAKFAST before rehearsal.

DAILY HOME BAND CAMP SCHEDULE

8 AM – 11 AM – Field Rehearsal - Outside

11 AM – Noon – Lunch on own

Noon – 3 PM – Music Rehearsal - Inside and outside

PRESTO-ASSISTANT 

https://www.presto-assistant.com - MAHS Band will utilize the Presto Assistant for managing and communicating to band families. This website is a one-stop shop for all parent information, communication, and financial information for the band program and the MABPO (Moon Area Band Parent Organization). This is our first season using this application. All parents will receive an email link to create a PARENT account in mid-June and again in July. Please check the email address from which you received this email. If you have issues creating an account, please get in touch with Mr. Barthen for assistance. Our organizational code is: moonareahsband.

MARCHING BAND MICROSOFT TEAMS 

Each marching band student was invited to a MS Teams Channel. This channel will be used to distribute music, drill, and other important student information throughout the year. Please make sure your student turns notifications on for this channel.

**DIETARY/ALLERGY INFORMATION - LINK

To aid in the planning and preparing the marching band season, please complete the form about your child’s Dietary needs and any allergies they may have. This information is confidential and will be used to ensure we meet your child’s needs during meals and snacks which the band provides. https://forms.office.com/r/kZkhVBY3ws

ABSENCE COMMUNICATION 

If your student will be absent from a marching band rehearsal, please communicate with either Mr. Barthen (winds/guard) or Mr. Fear (pit/battery percussion). This will aid us in the planning and structure of rehearsal. Our e-mail addresses can be found at the bottom of this document.

MANILLA ENVELOPE 

At the July 22 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.

BAND HANDBOOK 

The band handbook will be available on July 28 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.

BAND PHYSICAL AND FORMS 

The Moon Area School District requires all participants of marching band to obtain a current physical examination. These forms need to be filled out by you and your physician and brought back to the athletic office. Forms are available on-line, visit https://studentcentral.bigteams.com for complete Physical forms and details. The examination and forms must be completed and turned into the Athletic Office by Monday, July 28 (Monday of Home Band Camp).  Please note, examinations must have occurred on or after May 1, 2025. The Band Physical Letter which explains the process can be found on the Presto website under the My Files tab.

SENIOR BANNER PICTURES

Senior members will be taking their banner pictures on Friday, August 1 at 7:45AM.  This is only for their senior banners.  Seniors will still need to attend the Band Picture day on Wednesday, August 20.

BAND PICTURE DAY

Band Picture Day has been scheduled on Wednesday, August 20 beginning at 8:00AM at MAHS.  Forms will be distributed/made available closer to the date.  All students must attend, even if not purchasing pictures.  We will take the large group pictures first, then move to the individual pictures.  Individual Pictures historically conclude around 10AM, more than enough time for freshman to participate in Freshman Orientation at 10AM.

COMPLETE 2025 SUMMER/FALL MARCHING BAND SCHEDULE -LINK

FORMS AND DOCUMENTS

COMPLETE 2025 Marching Band Rehearsals and Performance Dates - LINK

2025 Marching Band Summer Rehearsal Dates

July 28 - August 1 - Home Band Camp for ALL

August 3 - 8 - Away Band Camp at W&J

August 11, 14, 18, & 21 - Rehearsal for Color Guard and Percussion - 5PM-9PM

August 12, 14, 19, 21 - Rehearsal for Winds - 5PM-9PM

August 16 - Production Rehearsal for All - 8AM-4PM

Friday Football Game Performances
August 22 at Trinity HS
August 29 at Montour HS
September 5 vs. Penn Trafford HS
September 12 at West Allegheny HS
September 19 Homecoming vs. Seneca Valley HS
September 26 vs. Bethel Park HS
October 3 at Peters Twp. HS
October 10 vs. Baldwin HS
October 17 vs. USC HS
October 24 at South Fayette HS

Saturday Marching Band Shows (subject to change)

Saturday, September 13 - Local Show at Baldwin HS

Saturday, October 4 - Local Show at Mt. Lebanon HS

Saturday, October 18 - PIMBA Championships at Deer Lakes HS

Saturday, October 25 - BOA Regional at U of Delaware

Important Upcoming Dates
July 22, 23, 24 - Mini Camps for Winds, Percussion, & Color Guard
July 28 - August 1 - Home Band Camp for ALL
August 3 - 8 - Away Band Camp at W&J
August 16 - Production Rehearsal for All - 8AM-4PM
Saturday, September 13 - Local Show at Baldwin HS
Saturday, October 4 - Local Show at Mt. Lebanon HS
Saturday, October 18 - PIMBA Championships at Deer Lakes HS
Saturday, October 25 - BOA Regional at U of Delaware
Wednesday, December 17 - MAHS Winter Band Concert
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 

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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.

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Questions, comments or suggestions contact communications@moonband.org