IMPORTANT DATES – MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Saturday, October 4 - Local Show at Mt. Lebanon HS
Saturday, October 18 - PIMBA Championships at Deer Lakes HS
Saturday, October 25 – LMBA Championships Erie, PA
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
REMINDERS:
Parents! PLEASE join us on Saturday, Sept 20 at 10:30 am for a work morning! We need help cutting fabric, mounting and figuring out cord runs for equipment. Meet at the middle school practice lot. Good fabric scissors are all you need to bring! No experience necessary! Email vpoperations@moonband.org with any questions.
Senior Night - Oct 17
Donations are needed for the Senior Night reception. Donations can be dropped off during the Band Parent Meeting on Thursday, October 16 or on Friday, October 17 between 3:30- 4:00 at the High School Cafeteria. Do Not drop off donations at the Band Room. Please see sign up for 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 see the sign up for Senior Night Volunteers to sign up. Any questions, please reach out to Keri Merklin at seniorrec@moonband.org
Senior Parents
Senior members and their parents are invited to a reception at the High School Cafeteria before the game. 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@moonband.org if you have any questions.
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. Refer to newsletter email for additional info.
FUNDRAISING
Fox's Pizza Kits are still on sale until September 18. Chocolate Boutique brochures and order forms are in the band room. They are due back September 30. If you have any questions, please email Hope at fundraising@moonband.org.
Dine to Donate at Tropical Smoothie Café is scheduled for September 17 from 5pm-8pm. Please scan the QR code at the register or enter the promo code on the flyer at checkout when using the app or online to order. See the attached flyer.
PIMBA CHAMPIONSHIP APPAREL SALE (from the show host Deer Lakes HS)
PIMBA SPRINT SHOP 2025 is now open!
Shop Now: https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/DTBgHZEnMW
Store Closes September 18th
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.
All volunteers must be 18+ any family member or friend can join. Everyone has to complete the RAMP training per the PA LCB. Ramp is valid for 2 years. Below is the link for the training. The online training is $9. Please send HODA the certificates upon completion.
Acrisure Stadium LID Number is 97210
https://rserving.com/web/pscc_state.php?siteid=251&flag=bartender%20license&statecode=PA
Electronic Background checks:
SOR (sex offender registry) and Volunteer List Disclosure need to be completed for ALL volunteers. (Hoda will email that separately). Aramark asks that volunteers fill out and e-mail back background check disclosure – (each volunteer receives through docusign), the other is for the sex offender registry check. ARAMARK needs them both. This is a REQUIREMENT for all volunteers. Anyone who does not sign the background check disclosure (via docusign) or does not fill out the list for the sex offender registry check will not be permitted to volunteer. To volunteer at both PNC PARK AND ACRISURE you will need black pants. No leggings, no ripped jeans. Sometimes they run out of shirts, so if you have a plain black shirt that would be great. ACRISURE provides a smock for us to wear.
They discount our parking when we work at PNC Park it is usually $10. There is a link to purchase the parking. If there is a group of us, we can carpool, share that fee and offer whoever drives gas money. Acrisure gives us parking, and they deduct it from our payout. The parking is also $10. The parking is at Cardello Electric parking lot. They provide a free shuttle to and from Acrisure.
STUDENT ACCOUNTS
For questions contact Maria at treasurer@moonband.org
BAND DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS: Mr. Barthen
September 19 - Football Game vs. Seneca Valley HS – HOME - Report time is 5:30 PM.
ITINERARY LINK
POST GAME SHOW after game.
Parents’ Guide to Marching Band Competition LINK
UPCOMING SCHEDULE CHANGES: Due to Homecoming, Tuesday. Sept. 16 will be a FULL BAND Rehearsal from 6-9PM; Thu. Sept. 18 will be Parade only at 5PM at MAHS. Monday, Sept. 15 will be percussion and color guard from 6-9pm as scheduled.
Homecoming Parade - Thursday, September 18 - 5:00 Report Time - The Homecoming parade is Thursday, September 18. Students will report to the M.S. Parking Lot at 5:00pm. At 5:30pm, the parade will proceed down Tiger Trail to the Stadium. The band will perform; other recognition will occur. Attire is Red Band shirt (receive on Monday/Tuesday) and dark shorts, tennis shoes. The ceremonies will conclude around 7:00PM. We will NOT rehearse after the parade.
Homecoming Football Game – 9/18 – POST GAME SHOW!! In following with tradition, the Band will be performing a post-game show following the football game on 9/18. The band will perform the ENTIRE competitive show with props. Please spread the word and stay for the performances.
MEMORIZATION TESTS - Memorization Testing has concluded. Students who need to re-take portions of the test need to do so before September 26. Students will need to speak with Mr. Barthen to arrange a time.
PIMBA BAND COMPETITION at Mt. Lebanon HS – 10/4 – Estimated report time is 1:30pm. Schedule has not been released.
October 25 Competition - LMBA Championships in Erie, PA
Due to Bands of America not being able to accommodate our travel and time constraints, we had to pull out of the BOA Mid-Atlantic Regional at the University of Delaware on 10/25. We will now be traveling to Erie, PA to perform at the Lakeshore Marching Band Association (LMBA) Championships at Erie Veterans Stadium on 10/25. Our performance time is at 6:30PM. This is NOT an overnight trip. Additional details will be distributed closer to the date. Report time will be approximately 10:30AM and return time will be around midnight.
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.
**PLEASE NOTE: As per the marching band handbook (Page 3):
TRIP ELIGIBILITY ATTENDANCE POLICY
When the MAHS Marching Band takes a performance trip, in order for students to be eligible to participate in the winter/spring trip, students must be in attendance for 84% of all scheduled marching band rehearsals beginning with the July Pre-Camp (July 22, 2025). The complete marching band schedule was released in December of 2024 and can be found on page 1 of the handbook. If a student is absent for EIGHT rehearsals (20% of all marching band rehearsals) for any reason(s), a meeting will be scheduled with the student, parents and band director(s) to discuss the reasons for the absences and thus the eligibility of the student’s Trip. If the non-refundable trip payment is made, then the student becomes ineligible to attend the trip, the parents/students will forfeit the non-refundable trip payment. The MAHS Marching Band will be traveling to Florida in February of 2026.
Band Dad Podcast
The Band Dad podcast is hosted by Scott Lang, a former music educator, current motivational speaker, and current Band Dad. The show provides a funny take on what it is like being a competitive marching band Parent, and it is not only for Band Dads, but for Moms also. It also offers Insite from some of the best directors across the country. Check it out here: https://www.banddadspodcast.com/
PMEA Honor Band Festivals
PMEA (Pennsylvania Music Educators Association) offers several different honor festivals for high school students throughout the year. Please take a look at the linked document to see if your child may be interested in auditioning for these groups. LINK
COMPLETE 2025 SUMMER/FALL MARCHING BAND SCHEDULE - LINK
UPCOMING DATES
Mon. Sept. 15 - Color Guard & Percussion Rehearsal - 6PM-9PM – MAHS
Tue. Sept. 16 - FULL BAND REHEARSAL - 6PM-9PM – MAHS
Wed. Sept. 17 -
Thu. Sept. 18 - FULL BAND HOMECOMING PARADE ONLY - 5PM-7PM – MAHS
Fri. Sept. 19 - Football Game vs. Seneca Valley HS - Homecoming - Report time is 5:30PM
Sat. Sept. 20 - Homecoming Weekend. - Band is Off
Mon. Sept. 22 - Color Guard & Percussion Rehearsal - 6pm-9pm – MAHS
Tue. Sept. 23 - Full Band Rehearsal - 6pm-9pm – MAHS
Wed. Sept. 24 -
Thu. Sept. 25 - FULL BAND Rehearsal - 6pm-9pm – MAHS
Fri. Sept. 26 - Football Game vs. Bethel Park - Report time is 5:30pm
Sat. Sept 27 - NONE
Mon. Sept. 29 - Percussion & Color Guard Rehearsal - 6PM-9PM - MAHS
Tue. Sept. 30 - Wind Rehearsal - 6PM-9PM - MAHS
Wed. Oct. 1 -
Thu. Oct. 2 - Full Band Rehearsal - 6PM-9PM - MAHS
Fri. Oct. 3 - Football Game @ Peters Township HS - Report time is 4:30PM
Sat. Oct. 4 - PIMBA Competition at Mt. Lebanon - Report time estimated to be 1:30PM
Mon. Oct. 6 – Color Guard Rehearsal – 6pm-9pm – MAHS
Tue. Oct. 7 – Wind and Percussion Rehearsal – 6pm-9pm – MAHS
Wed. Oct. 8
Thu. Oct. 9 – Full Band Rehearsal – 6pm-9pm – MAHS
Fri. Oct. 10 – Football Game vs. Baldwin HS – Report time is 5:30PM
Sat. Oct. 11 - NONE
Future Events
Sat. October 4 - Mt. Lebanon PIMBA Competition - Estimated report time is 1:30PM
Sat. October 18 - PIMBA Championships at Deer Lakes HS - Report time TBD on seeding
Sat. October 25 – LMBA Championships at Erie Veteran Stadium - Report time is estimated at 10:30AM
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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
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