IMPORTANT DATES – MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
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:
If you can help chaperone or with equipment this Friday, November 7th, please see the sign up genius link attached to this email.
Assistance Needed with Senior Memory Books
Would you like to lend your creative talents to help celebrate our seniors? Each year, the seniors are presented with a memory book at the spring banquet documenting their time in Moon Band - from rehearsals, competitions, and football games through Florida trips, pancake breakfasts and sit-down concert season. We need some help from parents to comb through our archive of photos over the past 4-5 years to pull images and build pages for the Class of 2026. We primarily build this in Canva, but you don't need a subscription, we can collaborate together via the app. If there's someone that is very deep into graphic design and wants to take over using their own platform, we'd be open to that as well. Contact Ted Merklin (pictures@moonband.org) if you'd be able to help out!
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
Hoagies and Pies are due Thursday, November 14 with delivery on Tuesday, November 25.
Sarris orders are due November 20 with online orders due December 14.
If you have an 8th grade student and the season is over, forms can be sent through Mrs. Finkelstein or Mr. Fear to the high school. If you have any questions, please email Hope at fundraising@moonband.org.
The next Dine to Donate is scheduled for tomorrow Tuesday, November 4th at Primanti Bros. in Moon. Please show a copy of the flyer to your server.
FUNDRAISING – ARAMARK – PNC/Acrisure/PPG
If you are interested in working games and events at Acrisure Stadium to raise funds for your band student, please email Heather Park at hburakow@yahoo.com. The next events are Pitt Football on 11/15, report time 8:30 am and Steelers 11/16, report time 9:30 am.
STUDENT ACCOUNTS
Band fees were due last Thursday, October 23rd. Unless you set up previous arrangements, all balances should be 0.
The 2nd Disney payment of $475 for a quad or $530 for a double is due this Thursday November 6th. You can pay online through Presto or place a check or money order in the band mailbox. If you have money in your band account and want it applied to payments, please contact Maria at treasurer@moonband.org. If band fees are not paid, the band fee money will be taken out of Disney payments.
BAND DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS: Mr. Barthen
Football Game @ Penn-Trafford HS - Away - 11/7 - Report time is 4:45pm - LINK
If the team wins on 11/7, we will play the winner of Pine Richland HS and Shaler HS at a neutral site. Information will be released as soon as it is known.
WPIAL Football Play-offs – The football has qualified for the WPIAL post-season. The full band will travel in support of the team. Games will be on 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 2-4 Rehearsal will be on Thursdays from 6:00-6:45PM. If the football team loses in the play-offs, they will be eliminated, and the Marching Band season will be done. No additional rehearsals will be held until February 2026 for the Florida performance.
WINTER CONCERT REHEARSALS
Symphonic Band (Period 5B & 6B)
Wednesday, December 10 - 6:30 - 9:00pm
Tuesday, December 16 - 6:30-9:00pm
Concert Band (Periods 3, 4A, 6B)
Wednesday, December 10 - 2:20 - 4:00pm
Tuesday, December 16 - 2:20 - 4:00pm
The Winter Band Concert is on Wednesday, December 17 beginning at 7:00pm in the MAHS Auditorium.
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.
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!
COLD WEATHER GEAR FOR GAMES
Students are encouraged to bring gloves, hats, blankets, and hand warmers to use in the stands. We will utilize our quilted raincoats during cold weather game. Whatever they bring, they must be able to perform in the stands and carry themselves.
UPCOMING DATES
Mon. Nov. 3 - No School
Tue. Nov. 4 - No School
Wed. Nov. 5 -
Thu. Nov. 6 - Full Marching Band Rehearsal - 6:00pm - 6:45pm
Fri. Nov. 7 - WPIAL Play-off Game #2 vs. Penn-Trafford HS - Away. Report time is 4:15pm; departure is 4:45pm
Mon. Nov. 10 -
Tue. Nov. 11
Wed. Nov. 12
Thu. Nov. 13 - None
Fri. Nov. 14 - Play-off Game #3 - Location and time TBD
Mon. Nov. 17 -
Tue. Nov. 18 -
Wed. Nov. 19
Thu. Nov. 20 - Play-off Rehearsal - 6:00-6:45pm
Fri. Nov. 21 -
Sat. Nov. 22 - WPIAL Championship - Time TBD at Acrisure Stadium
Mon. Nov. 24
Tue. Nov. 25
Wed. Nov. 26
Thu. Nov. 27 - Happy Thanksgiving
Fri. Nov. 28 - Possible PIAA Football Play-off game if win WPIAL Championship
Sat. Nov. 29 - Possible PIAA Football Play-off game if win WPIAL Championship
Future Events
Wednesday, December 10 - WINTER CONCERT DRESS REHEARSAL
Tuesday, December 16 - WINTER CONCERT DRESS REHEARSAL
Wed. December 17 - MAHS Winter Band Concert
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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.
Check out Moon Band on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/moonareabands
Questions, comments or suggestions contact communications@moonband.org