IMPORTANT DATES – MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
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, November 19 Band Parent Meeting 7pm
Thursday, December 10 Band Parent Meeting 7pm
Sunday, December 13 Annual Pancake Breakfast 8am-12pm
Thursday, December 17 - Winter Band Concert
Thursday, January 21 Band Parent Meeting 7pm
Wednesday, May 19, 2027 - Spring Band Concert
Meet and Greet—October 1
Join us in the Middle School parking lot at 8 p.m. Enjoy dessert provided by the MABPO Board and watch the final run-through of the show. After rehearsal, stay for the presentation of Senior Yard Notes and Varsity Letterman Jackets.
Thank you to everyone who donated squishes or volunteered at the carnival booth. Your support helped make the evening a success!
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.
FUNDRAISING: Our next fundraiser will be starting October 5- October 19. Students will be selling the SUNSERI Pepperoni Rolls & Pie Shoppe Pies. Please look for a separate email with the brochures and order forms. Brochures and order forms will also be available for pick up in the band room. Please email Alyssa at mabpofundraising.ad@gmail.com with any questions.
Sign Up Genius for Football Games/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 was 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, October 2 - Football Game at Pine Richland HS - Report time is 4:30pm - 
IT FB 6A 2026.pdf We are performing the comp show
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. 9/28 – Percussion and Color Guard Rehearsal – 6pm-9pm - ENSEMBLE DOTS
Tue. 9/29 – WIND ONLY REHEARSAL– 6pm-9pm – ENSEMBLE DOTS
Wed. 9/30 – None
Thu. 10/1 – FULL BAND REHEARSAL - 6pm-9pm - Finish Show
Fri. 10/2 Football Game @ Pine Richland HS
Sat. 10/3 – Off
Report time for Sat. 10/10 PIMBA Competition at Deer Lakes HS is 1:30PM; Performance time is 7:15PM
**IMPORTANT** REHEARSAL/PERFORMANCE CHANGES****
PERC & GUARD - THIS IS FOR YOU!
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 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. 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 - Report 1:30; Perf. 7:15
___
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
____
Mon. Oct. 19 – NO SCHOOL
Tue. Oct. 20 – FULL BAND Rehearsal - 6PM-9PM - MAHS
Wed. Oct. 21
Thu. Oct. 22 - FULL BAND REHEARSAL - 6PM-9PM - MAHS
Fri. Oct. 23 – Football game at Armstrong HS
Sat. Oct. 24 – PIMBA CHAMPIONSHIPS AT Gateway 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