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:
Senior Parents and Guardians - All seniors should have received a link from Mr. Barthen in TEAMS to a Google form to complete with requested information for the Senior Recognition ceremonies at halftime later in October. Please make sure they get this info completed by this Friday, October 3rd.
If you can chaperone or help with equipment crew or concessions for our October events, please reach out to VPoperations@moonband.org. We still have fun slots to fill!
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.
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. Refer to newsletter email for additional info.
FUNDRAISING
Chocolate Boutique orders are due today Monday, September 29. 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.
STUDENT ACCOUNTS
The 3rd band fee of $100 was due on Thursday, September 25th. For questions contact Maria at treasurer@moonband.org
BAND DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS: Mr. Barthen
Football Game @ Peters Township - 10/3 - Report time is 4:30 - LINK
Mt. Lebanon HS PIMBA Competition - 10/4 - Report time is 1:30pm - Students need to bring dinner to eat on the bus -LINK
PARENTS: All students have been sent a link on TEAMS to choose their dinner option for LMBA Championships on 10/25. Please remind them to complete this by 10/13
SENIOR PARENTS: All senior marching band students have been sent a form to complete regarding their senior recognition announcements. This is due by this Friday, 10/3. The message was sent via Microsoft Chat.
Parents’ Guide to Marching Band Competition LINK
FLORIDA TRIP INSURANCE - PURCHASE DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 7 - LINK
US Air Force Band - The US Air Force Concert Band and Singing Sergeants, one of the premier military musical ensembles, will be in concert on Wednesday, October 15 at 7:00pm in our own MAHS Auditorium. Tickets are free, you will need to reserve a seat. Several of our own MAHS Marching Band and choir students will be performing with this group. Please click the link for tickets and details. LINK
PIMBA CHAMPIONSHIPS at Deer Lakes HS – 10/18– Report time is estimated to be around 1:00PM. Performance time is based off of score seeding after the last regular season show on 10/11. Additional information will be posted as soon as it is known.
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
TRUNK OR TREAT – 10/27 – 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 6:45PM 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 while the team is in the play-offs. WEEK #1 Rehearsal will be Monday, October 27 from 6-6:45PM.
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. 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 is 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 - US Air Force Band Concert - 7:00PM - MAHS Auditorium
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.
Mon. Oct. 20 - NO REHEARSAL
Tue. Oct. 21 - FULL BAND REHEARSAL - 6pm-9pm - MAHS
Wed. Oct. 22 -
Thu. Oct. 23 - FULL BAND REHEARSAL - 6pm-9pm - MAHS
Fri. Oct. 24 - Football Game @ South Fayette HS
Sat. Oct. 25 - LMBA Championships in Erie, PA - Report time is 10:30AM
Future Events
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
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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