August 13, 2023 Band Notes

Upcoming Events  

Monday, Aug 14

• Full Band 3-6pm; HS

Tuesday, Aug 15

• Leaders/Seniors/Drumline play for teacher Opening Day 7:30am-8:15am
• Full Band 6-9pm; HS

Wednesday, Aug 16

• Color Guard Rehearsal 6-9pm; HS

Thursday, Aug 17

• 1st Day of School; Students with last names starting with A-L
• Woodwinds & Brass Rehearsal 3-6pm: HS
• Percussion Rehearsal 6-9pm; HS

Friday, Aug 18

• 1st Day of School; Students with last names starting with M-Z
• Full Band Rehearsal 3-5pm
• First Home Football Game 6:00pm to approximately 9:30pm (See typical schedule below.  Any timing updates will be sent through Parent Remind. Details on how to set up parent Remind can be found HERE.)

Saturday, Aug 19

• Panoramic/Section Photos 8:30am-11:00am (Please see below for details)
• Full Band Rehearsal 2:00-9:00pm (Please see below for details) - BYO Dinner 5-6pm

Future planned events can be found on the updated band calendar: Mason Band Calendar

Parent To Do Checklist For This Week

1. Make sure you are set up to receive messages in the parent Remind Group  Details on how to set up parent Remind can be found HERE. (This is how we will communicate to parents during the football game on Friday.) 
2. Order Fall Mums if desired.
3. Sign up to be a parent mentor if interested (Please see details below)
4. Pick up Car Raffle Tickets to sell and help us spread the word!. (Please see details below)
5. Senior Parents- Fill out this form (Please see below for details)
6. Volunteers needed for feed the band. Sign up HERE.
7. Please fill out 2024 Winter Guard Season Interest Form by this Friday, August 18th if interested in Winter Guard. (Please see below)

NEW INFORMATION

Band/Guard Locker Information

CLICK HERE FOR LOCKER INFORMATION AND ASSIGNMENTS

Lockers for all band and guard students have been assigned for the school year. Please read through the information above, and use the “Locker Issue” form included if you have any issues with your locker for this year.

Mason Bands Car Raffle 

We are so excited to announce the launch of our 2023 Mason Bands Car Raffle! Mason Band Boosters is partnering with Jake Sweeney Automotive to raffle off a 2023 Jeep Wrangler or a cash prize. This fundraiser is a very important one for our organization as it helps provide some much needed funds to help with the expenses of our program as well as allows us to reach outside of our band family and community to help raise funds!  

We Need Each And Every Family To Help Reach Our Goal Of Selling 3000 Tickets And To Give Away This Fabulous Vehicle Or A Cash Prize!  

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW NOW

Raffle Period -  Raffle runs NOW through October 7th OR until 3000 tickets are sold...whichever comes first!

Drawing - Saturday, October 7th, 2023 at the Mason Invitational.  Need not be present to win!

Prizes - 

• Grand Prize - 2023 Jeep Wrangler or a cash prize!
• 2nd Place Prize - $1000 cash  
• 3rd Place Prize - $500 Cash

Car Raffle Rules And Regulations - Please Click Here for complete Car Raffle rules and regulations .  Must be 18 years of age and a Resident of Ohio to purchase or be named on the ticket.

Tickets Can Be Purchased Using One Of The Following Methods:

1. In-Person from a Band Family

• • Raffle Ticket Pickup -  All families should plan to pick up a ticket envelope this week during evening practices.   Tickets can be picked up near rehearsal (either bus circle or stadium) on Tuesday from 8-9pm.  Adults ONLY please!
  • Ticket Sales - We are asking each family to sell at least 9 tickets.  You can purchase these for yourself OR sell them to friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, etc.  We welcome you to sell as many as you can!  Purchasers and those named on the tickets must be 18 years of age and residents of the State of Ohio!
  • Ticket Prices -1 ticket-$50 or 3 for $100 (to same individual)

2. Online

• • Purchases can be made online via the 2023 Car Raffle Ticket Order Form.  More information regarding the Car Raffle can be found on our website Here. Please share these links with family and friends. Feel free to share it via social media as well.

3. Mail-In Request

• •  2023 Mail-In Request Form

Please Note: If purchasing a bundle, all tickets in the bundle must have the same name, address and phone number with them.      

Questions? - Please direct those to carraffle@masonbandboosters.com.

Attention Senior Marching Band Students

Attention Marching Band Seniors and Families:  

We are busy planning the Marching Band Senior Night! To help make the evening a fun and memorable experience, we need a little information from you. Please fill out this form with the names of those planning to escort your senior. Historically, those that have escorted the student have included parents, stepparents, guardians, grandparents, siblings, etc. We will need the list of all those escorting the student, including phonetic spelling, so that everyone can be recognized. Please submit this information NO LATER THAN October 4, 2023. Please note: If you already submitted this information via email vs. the Google Form, we already have your responses recorded.  The Senior Night/Family Showcase will be taking place on Friday, October 13th. Below you will find the schedule for the night for your planning purposes.  Thanks so much for your help!

Please contact seniors@masonbandboosters.com with any questions.

First Home Football Game This Friday Night!

The Marching Band’s first 2023 public performance of the competition show will be this Friday night at half-time!   Students will wear Summer Uniforms for the first home football game.  They should bring their summer uniform with them to school so they can change into it prior to the game (see schedule below).   

Feed the Band

Our first Feed the Band event will be THIS FRIDAY!  All students will be offered food every FOOTBALL FRIDAY compliments of our sponsors and/or the Mason Band Boosters!

This Friday’s Menu will be sponsored by Mason Band Boosters and provided by:

Chick Fil A - Trailside Drive, Liberty Center

The Menu* will be as follows:

Regular Diets - Chick Fil A Sandwich (no pickle) with choice of assorted sauces, Lays Chips, Apple Sauce, Cookies, Gatorade

Vegetarian/Halal/Vegan/Dairy Free/Onion Free - Southwest Veggie Wrap (No cheese/no onion) with choice of assorted dressing and sauces, Lays Chips, Apple Sauce, Cookies, Gatorade

Gluten Free/Nut Allergy - Grilled Chicken Nuggets with choice of assorted sauces, Lays Chips, Apple Sauce, Fruit Snacks, Gatorade

Note:  The special diet foods are ONLY for those who have declared a special dietary need as we only have a limited number of those meals.  Everyone else is expected to eat the Regular Diet meal.  Likewise, those that have declared a special diet are expected to eat their special diet offering. Thank you for your cooperation!

*If the above do not meet your dietary preferences or needs, you always have the option of having food dropped off or packing your own dinner!

Any questions can be directed to our Feed the Band Chair, Smita Ankola at smita.ankola@gmail.com.  We thank Smita for volunteering her time and taking on this large task for us this year!!!

Volunteers Needed For Feed The Band

We need people to help feed the band for football games.  This is an easy way to help and get those required volunteer hours in!  Slots are filling up quickly.  If interested, please sign up below.  Thanks for your help!

• 8/18- HERE
• 9/8- HERE
• 9/22- HERE
• 10/6 - Sign up HERE
• 10/13- Sign up HERE

Tickets

A reminder to our new families, tickets are required for anyone who wishes to enter the stadium to watch the game (and the band’s pregame and half-time performances).  

Information on tickets for all Mason sporting events can be found HERE. (You will need to log into Schoology to view) Tickets can be purchased directly HERE.

Mason Bands Football Primer--Key Things to know:

1. Students rehearse right after school and do not have time to leave campus.  They should have their regular rehearsal gear and filled water bottle with them to keep hydrated throughout the evening on long Friday game nights. 
2. Students should bring both rehearsal and performance clothes (either summer uniform or what they wear under their uniform) to school on Friday.  Directors will communicate in advance what uniform students will wear at the game. This week they will be wearing the summer uniform.
3. Students are not allowed to leave campus for dinner.  The Band Boosters provides dinner for students on Friday nights between rehearsal and game time.  You may bring dinner to your student at 5:00 pm if you wish. Each week the dinner plan will be shared in the Sunday Band Notes. 
4. The Band plays in front of the Atrium before they enter the stands.  If you want to see that, stay outside the football stadium at the entrance and then enter after they play the fight song,
5. Parents not working to support the band at the game, have to purchase tickets to enter Atrium Stadium.  Please see above for information on how to purchase tickets.
6. Students will stay with the band through halftime performance and then have third quarter off to visit friends, family and the concession stand! Students need to bring money if they want anything at the concession stand. They will be bringing their personal water bottles up with them for the game.
7. Students will return to the End Zone for the 4th quarter.
8. Parents pick-up students at the High School after they have changed. Students will need time to put away all instruments and equipment and ensure their uniforms are properly put away.

If you have questions about Friday, feel free to contact Shannon at  Travel@MasonBandBoosters.com

Typical Friday Night Home Schedule - All Times are Approximate

Saturday Schedule For Panoramic/Section Photos And Rehearsal

Band Pano and Section Photos- Saturday, August 19, 2023

This year’s panoramic photo and section photos will be available to order on the same form used to order individual portraits, which will likely come out in late August or early September after the formal group photos are taken. Individual portraits will be scheduled at a later date and will be done by appointment only.

2023 Fall Mum Sale

It’s time to order your fall mums! Orders can be placed until August 31st and will be picked up at the front of Mason Middle school on September 9th. 

https://form.jotform.com/Masonbands/FallMums

Join Us At Panda Express!

Join us Wednesday, August 30th at Panda Express for our Dine and Donate event.  You can order online, drive-thru, or order ahead.  Bring the flyer or show it on your phone and the band receives 20% of the proceeds. If you place an order via PandaExpress.com or the App., please enter 355702 in the fundraiser code box.  See FLYER for details.  

When: Wednesday, August 30, 2023 Time: 10:30 AM to 9:00 PM

Where: Panda Express located at: 7939 Tylersville Road West Chester OH 45069

Interested in Winter Guard?

We are excited to announce the structure for the 2024 Winter Guard Season will remain the same as the past couple of years! This structure has produced a lot of stability in the winter guard program, as well as developed more opportunities for growth and technical proficiency for all of our members. There will be two options for involvement: the Competitive Winter Guard (CWG) and the Winter Guard Performance Ensemble (WGPE), as well as enhancing the 7th Grade Winter Guard experience at the middle school.

If interested in participating in Winter Guard this upcoming season, please help us by filling out the form below by This Friday, August 18th. This is important for our planning purposes.  Further details regarding the program can also be found within the form.

2024 Winter Guard Season Interest Form

Thank You For Your Donations!

Thanks to all of you who supported the Mason Band’s service project to benefit the  Comet Cupboard/Comet Closet.  We are happy to report that we were able to collect a 2290 items for our neighbors in need. We hope that our efforts will make a difference to our fellow Comets.  Thanks again for your help!

REMINDERS

Super Regional Tickets On Sale Now

Super Regional tickets can now be purchased at the links below. Tickets for Grand Nationals will go on sale in early September. 

Friday Prelims Tickets- Guaranteed to perform. 

Saturday Finals Tickets - Will need if we proceed to finals. **Please note that the only tickets needed for Saturday would be Finals Tickets since our preliminary performance takes place on Friday.  You do not need Saturday Preliminary Tickets (unless you are interested in watching other bands that are scheduled for their Prelims on Saturday.)

The most current details/information on the trip can be found HERE for your planning purposes. 

Students do NOT need tickets. They get admission as performers. Those volunteering AT THE EVENT also do not need tickets. Only those who are NOT volunteering at the event and wish to travel and watch the Band perform need to buy tickets. Totally OPTIONAL for families as students will be bussed via charter buses to and from Indy. Preliminary performance time is tentatively between 4-6pm (we do not have exact time yet) on Friday, October 20th and Finals performance time is TBD on Saturday, October 21st pending preliminary results. You will need a ticket for each session you plan to attend...Friday Prelims and Saturday Finals would be the two sessions we would perform. More information can be found at https://marching.musicforall.org/event/indysuper23/

Looking For Booster Parent Mentors

We are looking for seasoned band parents to act as mentors for our new families.  This would entail answering questions, providing support, and sharing insights with our newest band families.  This is a simple way to make a huge difference in creating a positive experience for those new to our band family. If interested, please fill out the form found HERE. If you have any questions, please contact Bridget Siedlecki at vp-membership@masonbandboosters.com.

Marching Band Secret Buddy Dates

The first Secret Buddy exchange is this Friday!

Dates: 

• 8/18- Home Football Game
• 9/8- Home Football Game
• 9/22- Homecoming Football Game 
• 10/7- Mason Invitational
• 10/20- Super Regionals 
• 11/4- MSBA Championships
• 11/09- Grand Nationals

Uniform Undergarments For Instrumentalists

This year, the Mason Marching Band will be using two sets of formal uniforms:  Classic Black and Competition White.  You will need to make sure your student has two sets of undergarments:

Black Uniforms - Tight Fitting/Compression style Black top (can be sleeveless or long sleeve) and black compression style shorts or pants. 

White Uniforms - VERY IMPORTANT!  MUST BE ALL WHITE WITH ALL WHITE UNDERWEAR AND CONTAIN NO PRINT OR LOGOS!  All undergarments must be tight fitting and PANTS MUST GO ALL OF THE WAY TO THE ANKLE!  SHIRTS MUST BE SLEEVELESS! We highly recommend a synthetic material vs. cotton as synthetics handle sweat and moisture much better than cotton.  CLICK HERE for more information and links to suggested items to buy.  You do not have to buy these, these are just examples of what you can buy.  You can purchase the undergarments anywhere you wish as long as they meet the requirements.  Any uniform related questions should be directed to Emmy Weiss at uniforms@masonbandboosters.com.

Socks will be provided by the Uniform committee for both sets of uniforms so you do not need to buy socks!

For information on Color Guard uniform undergarments, please see Erica’s weekly update email for more information on what to purchase for this year’s color guard uniforms.

Marching Band Next Steps - Registration Guide

Marching Band Registration Guide

This linked guide below is a comprehensive guide on all of the remaining steps required for both Marching Band and the Rose Parade Trip. 

2023 Marching Band Registration Guide

Next Up

• Past Due, Pay $575 Rose Trip Payment #4 via  Bob Rogers Travel
• September 1, Pay $450 Student Experience Fee 2 to Mason Band Boosters. Invoice was sent July 17th via email from: quickbooks@notification.intuit.com

Please contact medicalsecretary@masonbandboosters.com with any questions regarding medications or physicals.  If you have any questions regarding fees, please email Mr. Sleppy at sleppyj@masonohioschools.com.