IMPORTANT DATES – MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Friday, September 11 Home @ RMU
Thursday, September 17 Band Parent Meeting 7pm
Friday, September 18 @ Thomas Jefferson
Saturday, September 19 Local Competition at Mt. Lebanon HS
Friday, September 25 @ West Allegheny (Homecoming)
Friday, October 2 @ Pine Richland
Friday, October 9 @ Plum
Saturday, October 10 Local Competition at Deer Lakes HS
Thursday, October 15 Band Parent Meeting 7pm
Friday, October 16 Home @ FND Stadium (412 Football Classic)
Saturday, October 17 Local Competition at McKeesport HS
Friday, October 23 @ Armstrong
Saturday, October 24 - PIMBA Championships at Gateway HS
Friday, October Home @ RMU (Senior Night)
Thursday, December 17 - Winter Band Concert
Wednesday, May 19, 2027 - Spring Band Concert
REMINDERS:
Senior Yard Notes: Volunteers are needed this Tuesday, September 8 from 5:30–8:30 p.m. to stencil names and complete touch-ups on the senior yard notes. Please meet in the backyard at Maria’s house, 423 Blue Ridge Drive.
Competition Flags: During Thursday’s band rehearsal, volunteers are needed to cut material and sew the competition swing flags. We will meet in the band room. Please bring scissors for cutting and, if you plan to sew, a sewing machine.
Yard Signs: If you ordered yard signs from cheer, they will be passed out at the end of practice in front of the Natatorium on Tuesday.
Senior Parents:
Please send the following information to Marcy at pictures@moonband.org for Senior Shoutouts.
Name:
Instrument/Section:
Favorite Subject:
Favorite Teacher:
Hobbies/Activities:
Favorite Band Memory:
Future Plans:
Parents of 2027 seniors, please send 7-10 of your favorite childhood photos of your Senior to Marcy at pictures@moonband.org. These pictures will be used to put together a slide show at the end of the year banquet in May.
Concession Stand: Thank you to everyone who has volunteered for concessions, donated food, or both. We still need a few more concession-stand volunteers, so please sign up if you can. Volunteers should report by 5:00 p.m., but no later than 5:30 p.m. Park in the upper lot as you would for the game: turn left at the first stop sign and continue past the first lot. Then walk to the stadium entrance, where you will see our tent. All volunteers, including those who signed up for the RMU concession stand, should report to the tent. Food and supply donations may be dropped off before band practice on Thursday, September 10, from 5:45 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. by the Natatorium entrance, or at the concession tent outside the stadium entrance by 5:30 p.m. on game day. Please contact Kristie at concessions@moonband.org with any questions.
Sign Up Genius for Homecoming Raffle Basket
Please consider donating one or two squishy toys of any size for a raffle basket at the Homecoming Carnival on September 24. Donations may be dropped off in the band room on September 17 before practice or during the Band Parent Meeting at 7 p.m. that evening. Refer to the sign-up genius links included in the newsletter email. Please contact Megan at communications@moonband.org with any questions.
Sign Up Genius for Football Games/Competitions
We need Parent Volunteers to help with Friday Night Football Games and Saturday Competitions. Please make sure your clearances have been submitted and are up to date. Refer to the sign-up genius links included in the newsletter email. Please contact Beckie at Vpoperations@moonband.org with any questions.
RaiseRight: Buy gift cards for everyday purchases and a percentage will support all Moon Area Band students through the MABPO General Fund.
Enroll through RaiseRight.
Enrollment Code: YXD6W6W9YJFL
FUNDRAISING – ARAMARK – PNC/Acrisure/PPG
If you’re interested in working games, please email Heather Park at hburakow@yahoo.com.
STUDENT ACCOUNTS
You are now able to apply your students’ credits to fees in presto. Under finances, it lists My Fees, My Payments and My Credits. Click on My Credits, then select Apply Credits. Select the fee you would like to apply the credit to. Please pay online via Presto or place a check in the band room mailbox for all payments due. Email Maria at treasurer@moonband.org if you have questions.
The third payment of $125 is due on September 24th.
The fourth and final payment of $125 is due on October 22nd.
BAND DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS: Mr. Barthen
PERFORMANCE ITINERARIES FOR THE WEEK
Friday, September 11 - Football vs. Penn-Trafford HS at RMU - Students Report to MAHS - 5:30PM - 
IT FB 3A 2026.pdf
THANK YOU to everyone who helped on Saturday 9/5. The turnout was unbelievable, and the wrap looks great!
**IMPORTANT** PROP WORKDAY - Saturday, 9/12 at MAHS
We will need help (parents/students/family members) building 18 props on Saturday, 9/12 starting at 8AM at MAHS. We will meet at the student entrance parking lot. The workday will focus on joining the two pieces of plywood together, via hinges, to the dollies. Materials needed will be drill, screw gun, drill bits, sockets, wrenches, and tape measure. Like last week, if we can get enough crews to assemble the props, the students will have a week of practice with the props for the first competition on 9/19!
Presto Google Calendar Link - This is the link to the master Google Band Calendar.
REHEARSAL SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
Mon. 9/7 – NONE –
Tue. 9/8 – FULL Band Rehearsal – 6pm-9pm – Learn Mvt. 3 Dots
Wed. 9/9 – None
Thu. 9/10 – FULL Band Rehearsal – 6pm-9pm – Learn Mvt. 3 Dots & Pre-game
Fri. 9/11- Football Game vs. Penn-Trafford HS at RMU Bethel Park – 5:30 Report time – ITINERARY LINK
Sat. 9/12 – Prop Workday – 8AM
**IMPORTANT** REHEARSAL/PERFORMANCE CHANGES****
FULL Band Rehearsals will be on Tuesday, 9/8 and Thursday, 9/10 due to Labor Day. We will finish learning drill for the competition show this week.
PERC & GUARD THIS IS FOR YOU!
PLEASE NOTE: Due to Homecoming, Tuesday. Sept. 22 will be a FULL BAND Rehearsal from 6-9PM; Thu. Sept. 24 will be the Parade only at 5 PM at MAHS. Monday, Sept. 21 will be percussion and color guard from 6-9pm as scheduled.
LABOR DAY WEEK REHEARSALS (READ COLOR GUARD AND PERCUSSION!!!)
REMINDER, as previously scheduled, there will not be rehearsal on September 7. We will hold FULL BAND Rehearsals on Tuesday, 9/8 and Thursday, 9/10. Please plan accordingly.
MUSIC MEMORIZATION TESTING WILL BEGIN ON SEPTEMBER 1-14 - LINK
Music to be memorized included:
Star Spangled Banner
Alma Mater
Fight Song
Hero
Treasure
Apt.
ALL THREE MVTS OF THE COMPETITION SHOW
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 planning and structuring rehearsal.
BAND HANDBOOK - LINK
PMEA Honors Band – Honors Band Auditions will be held on Monday, October 5 at South Fayette High School. There will be a school van transporting student who are auditioning. Students CANNOT drive to this audition.
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.
UPCOMING DATES
Mon. Sept. 7 – No Rehearsal – Labor Day
Tue. Sept. 8 – FULL BAND Rehearsal - 6PM-9PM – MAHS – Learn & Ens Dots
Wed. Sept. 9 -
Thu. Sept. 10 - FULL BAND REHEARSAL - 6PM-9PM – MAHS – Finish 3rd mvt.
Fri. Sept. 11 - Football Game vs Penn-Trafford at RMU – Report time 5:30pm – ITINEARY LINK
Sat. Sept. 12 -
___
Mon. Sept. 14 - Color Guard & Percussion Rehearsal – 6PM-9PM - MAHS
Tue. Sept. 15 - Wind Rehearsal - 6PM-9PM - MAHS
Wed. Sept. 16
Thu. Sept. 17 - FULL BAND REHEARSAL - 6PM-9PM - MAHS
Fri. Sept. 18 – Football game at Thomas Jefferson HS – Report time is 4:30pm
Sat. Sept. 19 – PIMBA Competition at Mt. Lebanon HS – Report time approx. 1pm. Performance time TBD.
___
Mon. Sept. 21 – Color Guard & Percussion Rehearsal – 6pm-9pm
Tues. Sept. 22 – FULL BAND REHEARSAL – 6pm-9pm
Wed. Sept. 23
Thu. Sept. 24 – Homecoming Parade on Campus – 5pm-7pm – No Rehearsal afterwards
Fri. Sept. 25 – Football game at West Allegheny HS – Report time 5:00PM
Sat. Sept. 26 - OFF
_____
Mon. Sept. 28 - Color Guard & Percussion Rehearsal – 6PM-9PM - MAHS
Tue. Sept. 29 - Wind Rehearsal - 6PM-9PM - MAHS
Wed. Sept. 30
Thu. Oct. 1 - FULL BAND REHEARSAL - 6PM-9PM - MAHS
Fri. Oct. 2 – Football game at Pine Richland HS – Report time is 4:30pm
Sat. Oct. 3 – OFF
Future Events
Sat. September 19 – Mt. Lebanon PIMBA Competition – Tentative report time is 1PM
Sat. October 10 – Deer Lakes PIMBA Competition
Sat. October 19 – McKeesport PIMBA Competition
Sat. October 24 – PIMBA Championships at Gateway HS
Thank you to our top Tier Sponsors!
Betlyn's Heating and Cooling
Brewer Toyota
Ceramiche Tile & Stone, Inc
Clearview Federal Credit Union
Huntsman Funeral Home
Moon Area Education Foundation
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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: Heather Longstreth - 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