Moon Area Band ~ October 26, 2026

IMPORTANT DATES – MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Friday, October 30 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
Fri. & Sat. January 29 & 30 - Symphonic Band Performance
Thursday, February 18 Band Parent Meeting 7pm
Thursday, March 18 Band Parent Meeting 7pm
Thursday, April 22 Band Parent Meeting 7pm
Wednesday, May 19, 2027 - Spring Band Concert
Thursday, May 20 Band Parent Meeting 7pm

Congratulations!
Congratulations to our Moon Area Marching Band and Color Guard on an incredible 3rd place finish in Division 4A with a score of 90.68! We are so incredibly proud of all that you accomplished throughout this season. Your hard work, dedication, and passion truly showed every time you stepped onto that field. What an amazing way to finish the competition season! Congratulations, Band of Excellence!

RMU Concession Stand October 30
Refer to the sign-up genius links included in the newsletter email. 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. Baked goods/hot food can be dropped off day/of either with your student or right to our concession stand tent outside the stadium entrance by 5:30 on game day. Shelf stable items can be dropped off, or even shipped to 2510 Minton Dr. Moon Twp, PA 15108. Please contact Kristie at concessions@moonband.org with any questions.

Help Needed with Senior Night October 30
Donations are needed for the Senior Night reception.  Donations can be dropped off before practice on Tuesday October 27 or on Friday, October 30 at 3:30pm at the High School Cafeteria. Do Not drop off donations at the Band Room. Please refer to sign up genius in the newsletter. Volunteers are needed to set up before the event at 3:15pm and clean up afterwards at 5:00pm. Senior parents will be participating in the evening and will not be able to volunteer. Please refer to sign up genius in the newsletter. If you have 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 on October 30th. The reception will begin at 4:00pm and include light refreshments.  The uniform room will open at 4:30pm for your senior to retrieve their uniform for a family picture. The reception will end around 5:00pm so that families have time to secure parking and seating at RMU. Seniors will be recognized during halftime of the football game. Below you will find senior recognition information for this Friday, Oct. 30^th at RMU-Joe Walton Stadium: Band senior recognition will take place at halftime. Families should make their way to the open-end zone area at the end of the 2^nd quarter. Stadium gates will open at 5:30pm. Tickets are currently available on pre-sale for Senior football, cheer, and band families. Senior families please check your emails for the link. 

Fundraising:
Pepperoni Rolls made by Sunseri will be delivered to the high school cafeteria on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, for pick up from 3:30pm-5:30pm.

The Pie Shoppe Pies/Pumpkin Rolls will be delivered to the high school cafeteria on Thursday, November 5, 2026. Pick up will be from 3:30-5:30.

Please email fundraising@moonband.org with any questions.

RaiseRight: Currently local restaurants like Texas Roadhouse, Applebees, and Panera have an 8% rebate. You don’t have to purchase these ahead of time. Simply purchase your ecard just before paying via the app. Halloween is approaching and places like Michael’s, Sam’s Club, Lowe’s and Home Depot currently have rebates available.
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 fourth and final payment of $125 is past due. Please pay through presto or place a check in the band room mailbox.

BAND DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS: Mr. Barthen
PERFORMANCE ITINERARIES FOR THE WEEK
Fri. 10/30 - Football Game @ RMU vs. North HIlls HS - Report time is 5:30 pm - Departing at 6:00PM – Football Show – ​​IT FB 10A 2026.pdf​​​

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. 10/26 – NO REHEARSAL
Tue. 10/27 – FULL Band Rehearsal – 6pm-6:45pm 
Wed. 10/28 – None
Thu. 10/29 – NO REHEARSAL
Fri. 10/30 - Football Game @ RMU vs. North Hills HS – Report time is 5:30pm
– ​​IT FB 10A 2026.pdf​​
Sat. 10/24 – NONE​

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). Please review the Band Handbook for the policies on 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 are a safety issue. Students are encouraged to wear hats, tossle hats, beanies etc. HOODIES ARE NEVER PERMITTED UNDERNEATH THE UNIFORMS

TRUNK OR TREAT – 10/27
It is a tradition to decorate parents’ vehicles and pass out candy to the kids à la trick-or-treating around the neighborhoods/cars. Students will dress up for rehearsal and trunk-or-treat. This will begin at 6:45 PM in the MS PARKING LOT/PRACTICE FIELD.

WPIAL Football Play-offs 
The football team 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.  This is a single elimination play-off, once the team looses, they are finished for the season.

PLAY-OFF WEEK #1 Rehearsal will be Thursday, November 5, from 6-7:00PM.

Winter Color Guard Ensemble (optional) will begin rehearsal on Friday, December 4 at 6pm in the Middle School Aux Gym.  Discuss with Jenn Barthen for further details.

BAND HANDBOOK - ​​LINK​​

UPCOMING DATES
Mon. Oct. 26 – No Rehearsal
Tue. Oct. 27 – Full Band Rehearsal – 6pm-7pm; Trunk or Treat at 7:00pm
Wed. Oct. 28 – None
Thu. Oct. 29 – No Rehearsal
Fri. Oct 30 – Football game vs North Hills HS at RMU – Report time 5:30pm – Senior Rec.
___
Mon. Nov. 2 – None
Tue. Nov. 3 – No School/No Rehearsal
Wed. Nov. 4 – None
Thu. Nov. 5 – Full Band Rehearsal - 6pm-7PM
Fri. Nov. 6 – WPIAL Round #1 Football Game - TBD
____
Mon. Nov. 9 - 
Tue. Nov. 10 - Full Band Play-off Rehearsal - 6-7pm
Wed. Nov. 11 - 
Thu. Nov. 12 - 
Fri. Nov. 13 - Potential WPIAL Round #2 Football Game - TBD
___
Mon. Nov. 16 - 
Tue. Nov. 17 -
Wed. Nov. 18 - 
Thu. Nov. 19 - Full Band Play-off Rehearsal - 6-7pm
Fri. Nov. 20 - Potential WPIAL Round #2 Football Game - TBD
________
Future Events
Thu. December 17 - 7:00pm - HS Winter Band Concert
Fri. & Sat. January 29 & 30 - Symphonic Band Performance

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.

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Questions, comments or suggestions contact communications@moonband.org