IMPORTANT DATES – MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Friday, September 25 @ West Allegheny (Homecoming)
Friday, October 2 @ Pine Richland
Friday, October 9 @ PlumSaturday, 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, November 19 Band Parent Meeting 7pm
Thursday, December 10 Band Parent Meeting 7pm
Thursday, December 17 - Winter Band Concert
Wednesday, May 19, 2027 - Spring Band Concert
Congratulations!
Congratulations to the Moon Area Marching Band on scoring 81.13 at the Mt. Lebanon PIMBA Competition! The band placed first in Class 4A and earned every caption award: Best Music, Best General Effect, and Best Visual Performance. Your hard work, dedication, and perseverance are producing outstanding results. We are incredibly proud of your achievements—keep up the great work!
REMINDERS:
Senior Parents: We are still waiting for a few student shout-outs. Please send the information below to Marcy as soon as possible so we can include your senior in this special tradition.
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.
Sign Up Genius for Homecoming Raffle Basket and Volunteers for Carnival Booth
The sign-up genius has been updated to include volunteer spots to help set up and work the Carnival Booth. We will be selling Boba drinks and raffle tickets to win the huge squishy basket. 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: Please email Alyssa at mabpofundraising.ad@gmail.com with any questions.
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 25 - Football Game at West Allegheny HS - Report time is 5:00pm - ITINERARY LINK
Presto Google Calendar Link - This is the link to the master Google Band Calendar.
Remind APP for Parents updates 2026 Parents Marching Band - @4b64kk9: Send a text to 81010; Include this code in the body of the text: @4b64kk9
REHEARSAL SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
Mon. 9/21 – Percussion and Color Guard Rehearsal – 6pm-9pm
Tue. 9/22 – FULL BAND REHEARSAL – 6pm-9pm – LEARN DOTS
Wed. 9/23 – None
Thu. 9/24 – Homecoming Parade – 5PM
Fri. 9/25- Football Game @ West Allegheny HS
Sat. 9/26 – Off
**IMPORTANT** REHEARSAL/PERFORMANCE CHANGES****
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.
Please pay attention to the October Rehearsal Schedule. Percussion and Guard begin to move to Tuesday and Thursday in OCTOBER!
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). Our e-mail addresses can be found at the bottom of this document. Please review the Band Handbook for the policies in missing rehearsal and grade/performance consequences that apply.
PLEASE NOTE: As per the MAHS Band Handbook: If a student misses a rehearsal, FOR ANY REASON, in which new material (drill, choreography, music etc.) or changes in the show have been taught, the student will not be able to perform that selection until the student has demonstrated proficiency on the new material. The Band Director will be the sole evaluator of proficiency in these cases.
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. The hood and/or ski mask impair peripheral vision and is a safety issue. Students are encouraged to wear hats, tossle hats, beanies etc. HOODIES ARE NEVER PERMITTED UNDERNEATH THE UNIFORMS
POST GAME SHOW AFTER 10/16 FNB Stadium Football Game - The band will perform the ENTIRE competitive show with props. Please spread the word and stay for the performances.
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 students 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. 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 – Comp Show
Sat. Oct. 3 – OFF
____
Mon. Oct. 5 - Color Guard Rehearsal – 6PM-9PM - MAHS
Tue. Oct. 6 - Wind & PERCUSSION Rehearsal - 6PM-9PM - MAHS
Wed. Oct. 7
Thu. Oct. 8 - FULL BAND REHEARSAL - 6PM-9PM - MAHS
Fri. Oct. 9 – Football game at Plum HS – Report time is 4:30pm
Sat. Oct. 10 – PIMBA COMPETITION AT DEER LAKES HS
___
Mon. Oct. 12 – NO REHEARSAL/NO SCHOOL
Tue. Oct. 13 – FULL BAND Rehearsal - 6PM-9PM - MAHS
Wed. Oct. 14
Thu. Oct. 15 - FULL BAND REHEARSAL - 6PM-9PM - MAHS
Fri. Oct. 16 – Football game at FNB Stadium (Riverhounds Stadium) – POST GAME SHOW OF COMP SHOW
Sat. Oct. 17 – PIMBA COMPETITION AT McKeesport HS
Future Events
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