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:
We need a few volunteers to help sort the uniforms when they are returned from dry cleaning this Thursday 9/25. We will meet around 6:00pm in the band room for about 1-2 hours. If you can help, please email Heather Park (uniforms@moonband.org). Thanks!
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. 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 Donations/Volunteers. 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
Chocolate Boutique orders are due next Monday, September 29.
Pizza kits come in next Monday, September 29 as well. They will be in the cafeteria between 5-6pm. I could use some help with bringing them in and organizing them. Please contact me if you are available!! If you have any questions, please email 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. 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
The 3rd band fee of $100 is due on Thursday, September 25th. You can put a check/money order in the band mailbox or pay online through Presto. For questions contact Maria at treasurer@moonband.org
BAND DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS: Mr. Barthen
September 26 - Football Game vs. Baldwin HS HS – HOME - Report time is 5:30 PM. Itinerary Link
Parents’ Guide to Marching Band Competition LINK
FLORIDA TRIP INSURANCE - PURCHASE DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 7 - LINK
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 – Report time is at 1:30pm. The performance is at 7:15pm. Students will need to pack dinner for the day to eat on the bus.
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.
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
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!
COMPLETE 2025 SUMMER/FALL MARCHING BAND SCHEDULE - LINK
UPCOMING DATES
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; Performance is at 7:15pm
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
Mon. Oct. 13 – Color Guard Rehearsal – 6pm-9pm – MAHS
Tue. Oct. 14 – Wind and Percussion Rehearsal – 6pm-9pm - MAHS
Wed. Oct. 15
Thu. Oct. 16 – Full Band Rehearsal – 6pm-9pm - MAHS
Fri. Oct. 17 – Football Game vs. USC HS – Home - Report time is 5:30PM
Sat. Oct. 18 - PIMBA Championships at Deer Lakes HS - Report time unknown at this time. Based on seeding and band score.
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