August 9, 2026 Band Notes

Upcoming Events

Monday, August 10

• Convocation: 7:30am-8:15am; MHS Band Room & Auditorium (schedule)
• • • Juniors, Seniors, Leadership, and Drumline only

• Full Band: 2-5pm; MHS
• Be sure to remove your vehicle from the Band Lot immediately after rehearsal

• Senior Parking Lot Spectacular (Community Event): 6-8pm; MHS student parking lots

Tuesday, August 11

• Full Band: 1pm-9pm; MHS
• On-campus dinner break 4:30-5:30pm

Wednesday, August 12

• Classic Uniform Fittings: 5:00-8:45; Guitar Room

Thursday, August 13

• First Day of School - Grades 9 & 12
• Full Band: 3pm-6pm; MHS
• Classic Uniform Fittings: 6:00-8:45; Guitar Room

Friday, August 14

• First Day of School - Grades 10 & 11
• Full Band: 6pm-9pm; MHS

Saturday, August 15

• Classic Uniform Fittings: 9:00am-12:30pm; Guitar Room
• Full Band: 1pm-9pm; MHS
• On-campus dinner break 4:30-5:30pm

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

Parent To Do Checklist For This Week

1. (Optional) Place your spirit orders by August 14.
2. (Optional) Senior Families - order any additional photo items TONIGHT, August 9.
3. Instrumentalists: Sign up for uniform fittings this week (not seniors).
4. Senior Families - Complete the form for Senior Night by Friday, September 18.
5. Order mums from our Fall Mums Sale by August 31.

NEW INFORMATION

Convocation - Monday

Marching Band Juniors, Seniors, Leadership, and Drumline, we have been asked to perform for the opening day Convocation Ceremonies on Monday, August 10th, 2026. Please see the timeline below for further details. Thank you for all of your help with the event.

Band Locker Information

CLICK HERE- LOCKER INFORMATION 

Please read the attached document for information about your band locker for this school year. All students in marching band (including color guard) and concert band have been assigned a locker. You may begin using your locker this week, so that you can store anything needed for the marching band rehearsals after school days. You can visit the band storage room on your way to first bell in the mornings, and in the afternoons after your sixth or seventh bell class. Please check the link in the document above for your assigned locker. There is also a google form to submit any locker issues you might have.

Senior/Family Night

Attention Seniors and Senior Families: The William Mason High School Marching Band senior night is one of the most looked forward to and special events we do throughout the year. We want to honor our seniors and their families for their dedication to our program. In the midst of our planning, we need to collect a little information from our seniors so they can be honored accordingly!

Please fill out this form 2026 Mason Marching Band Senior Night Information with the names of those planning to escort your student during the on-field recognition of seniors. Traditionally, escorts have included: parents, step-parents, guardians, siblings, and/or grandparents. We will need the list of all those escorting the student - including phonetic spelling. Please submit this information NO LATER THAN Friday, September 18, 2026.  

The 2026 Senior Night/Family Showcase will take place on Friday, October 2nd. Below you will find the tentative schedule for the night for your planning purposes.  Thanks so much for your help!

Please contact Kaja Harper at seniors@masonbandboosters.com with any questions.

Comet Cupboard - Extended Collection

We have extended the deadline to donate until Friday, August 14th.  Please help!

Our wonderful community has shown their love and support for the band during Tag Day.  Now it is time for us to pay forward some of the love we were shown to our neighbors in need.  Please support the Mason Band’s service project as we collect donations for the Comet Cupboard.  

Top Needs include: Cereal Bars, 16oz Peanut Butter, Tuna Packets, and Fruit/Applesauce Squeezes. 

Students may bring their donations to school during band rehearsals / place in the Guitar Room.  Please email vp-studentexperience@masonbandboosters.com with any questions.

Secret Buddy

Secret buddy is a fun and completely optional way for your child to spread a little happiness while giving (and receiving) treats. Students will “gift” their secret buddy snacks/treats and drinks throughout the season on selected dates - see below.  Information was shared with students this past week; the sign-up form will be directly issued to students soon.  If your child is interested, they should complete the Google sign up form by Sunday, August 16th. Students will be paired up with a buddy.  Data submitted on the sign up form by your child’s buddy will be shared in order for your student to find out more about snack/treat preferences and any allergies or dietary concerns. Buddy information will be shared to students via email no later than August 28th. 

If your child wants to be a buddy, please make sure they take good care of their buddy! 

Also, it’s more fun to try to keep your identity secret until Grand Nationals. 

There will be 8 Secret Buddy exchanges this season:

• Sep 04 - Friday Home Football Game
• Sep 18 - Friday Home Football Game
• Sep 25 - Friday Home Football Game (HOCO)
• Oct 02 - Friday Full Band 3-6pm Rehearsal (day before Ohio Buckeye Invitational)  
• Oct 10 - Saturday Mason Band Invitational
• Oct 23 - Friday Home Football Game
• Nov 07 - Saturday MSBA Championship
• Nov 13 - Friday BOA Grand Nationals  

Any questions, please reach out to vp-studentexperience@masonbandboosters.com

Grand National Tickets on Sale Tomorrow

Tickets for Grand Nationals go on sale tomorrow, Monday,  August 10. Click here for the BOA/Music For All page.

Preliminaries

Grand Nationals is a bigger event than Regionals. There are two days of Preliminary competition on Thursday and Friday, each with separate tickets. Mason will perform on Thursday, November 12, so that is the day you would purchase ticket for if you plan to attend. Our performance time has not been confirmed yet. Prelims tickets are General Admission, so you do not need to purchase these until you are sure you are attending.

Semi-Finals

Mason hopes to perform a second time in the Semi-Finals on Saturday, November 14 during the day. Our performance time on that day is typically late morning or afternoon, but we will not know for sure until late the night before. There are some reserved seat tickets available for Semi-Finals, or you can purchase General Admission.

Finals

Based on the results of the Semi-Finals, bands have the opportunity to perform in the Finals on Saturday evening November 14 (yes, the same day as Semis). If we make Finals, we will not know our performance time until late afternoon that day. Finals tickets are all reserved seats and typically sell out, so if you plan to attend we encourage you to purchase your tickets as soon as possible. However, there is no guarantee that Mason will be in the Finals.

Prelims - Thursday, 11/12/2026 - Mason performs - General Admission tickets.

Prelims - Friday, 11/13/2026 - Mason does NOT perform this day - General Admission tickets.

Semis - Saturday, 11/14/2026 - Mason Semis performance time TBD (announced Friday evening) - Reserved or General Admission tickets.

Finals - Saturday, 11/14/2026 - Mason performance NOT guaranteed. Performance and time slot contingent on score in Semi-Finals and results. Reserved tickets only (likely to sell out).

Hotels

***Pro Tip*** If you plan to stay in downtown Indianapolis at any point during the weekend, we highly recommend you make reservations/plans for accommodations now to ensure you have a place to stay.

You may also elect to stay in a hotel outside of downtown (there are plenty available, even in November) and park in a day lot near the stadium. There are several lots a few blocks away that typically charge $20 per day.

Jacob Langbein Foundation Fundraiser

The Jacob Langbein Foundation is selling stadium seat chairs. Proceeds from the sales will go towards Mental Health training and support to the Mason Marching Band, as well as other bands in our area as the foundation expands its mission to support the mental health of marching band students in the area. 

Link to Purchase: https://cap-tivatingcreations513.com/products/mason-stadium-chairs

About the Jacob Langbein Foundation:
Jacob Langbein was a member of the class of 2017 and a proud member of the Mason bands. Band was a bright spot and helped Jake thru a tough time with depression and mental health issues while in high school. In 2021 Jake died by suicide. At that time the Langbein family partnered with Mason bands and started providing funds for mental health training for students and staff, paid to send a school psychologist/mental health advocate with the band to the Rose Parade and also provided scholarships to help students with marching band fees. The Jacob Langbein memorial Foundation has now been created to extend the reach beyond Mason bands and help other bands with providing mental health training and support to their students and staff, all while continuing the partnership originally stated with Mason bands. We appreciate the continued support of Mason families and friends as we continue to help stop the stigma of mental health one student at a time.

Dine and Donate

Don’t miss our next dine and donate opportunity - it will be delicious! Stop by Menchie's Frozen Yogurt on Tylersville Rd on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 from 4pm to 9pm, with the band receiving 15% of sales. The flyer must be shown at time of order (either on a phone or printed).

Medical Secretary Notes

As we approach the football game and travel part of the season–a few reminders:

1. Our “Feed the Band” team is working to arrange what will be fed to our students prior to games. To that end, if your student has a food allergy (anaphylactic or not) OR food preference (vegetarian, Halal, etc.) please make sure you have submitted a Health and Well-Being Profile for your student. Click Here to fill out the form. This is the only way we know what foods not to serve them. If you can’t remember if you submitted one or not, please email Sally at medicalsecretary@masonbandboosters.com
2. Per school policy, students may not have any medications in their possession while participating in band (while at school or traveling) unless a DMS with ‘self-carry’ form has been turned in. All medications go through our Medical Secretary and need to be dropped off  by a parent by arranging a time with Sally McDonald, our Medical Secretary.
3. You can continue to submit Medication forms as the need arises. Please think ahead to get them filled out by your doctor and submitted prior to our travel dates. Our Band Aid team is here to serve all students who will need medications while traveling. Medication drop off times will be posted prior to trips. Click Here to access our Medication Policy (i.e. blank DMS forms and upload instructions).

2027 Travel Update

We are discussing a potential larger scale trip for the 2027 marching band season. No plans are confirmed. Given the scope being discussed, families may want to begin setting aside funds now so they're prepared if it moves forward. We'll keep everyone posted as things develop.

REMINDERS

Parking Lot Information - Stadium Nights

The safety of our students is our top priority! 

Now that we have started full band rehearsals with props in the stadium, please help us keep our students safe!

Keep in mind:

• We have a LOT of students, instruments, and props to move each time we go to or from the stadium. It takes a long time, and students will likely be spread out.
• They must cross parking lots at 5 different points along the way (marked with the red triangles below).
• Pit instruments must travel in the road that goes along the student parking portion of the lot (marked with the "DO NOT DRIVE" below).
• We try to have adult volunteers help with parking lot safety/flow, but may not always be able to have volunteers out there, or have enough volunteers.

Please:

• Watch for students (and adults) in roads and parking lots and at crosswalks - always let them pass.
• Do NOT drive on the road along student parking from the stadium to the school when the band is in transit.
• Obey any of our adult volunteers who are helping with traffic - do not drive around them, yell, or honk. Remember - they are volunteers, and they are trying to keep our kids safe.
• Wait patiently while roads are blocked off.
• As always, drive slowly in the parking lots.

If anyone is interested in helping with traffic on stadium nights (you do not have to be part of the Student Care Team), please reach out to Tyler at vp-studentexperience@masonbandboosters.com.

Also, reminder to please not post any videos or any pictures of our props on social media.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Tag Day Thank You - And It’s Not Too Late to Donate! 

A huge thank you to Sally McCarthy, Kristen Frazier, all of our drivers, and our amazing students for their dedication and hard work on a very stormy day, making this year's Tag Day another tremendous success! We also want to extend our sincere thanks to all of our band families for their generous donations and support. 

And did you know - it is not too late to donate to Tag Day! Our friends and family campaign runs through the month of August. Donations can be made online HERE, or by sending a check made out to Mason City Schools addressed to Mason Band Boosters, P.O Box 310, Mason, OH 45040-0310. 

Tag Day photos - Drivers/student leaders: if you took photos of your groups during TAG day, please use this link to upload your photos so they can be reviewed/loaded to the SmugMug site.

Fall Mum Sale

Support the Mason Bands with beautiful Fall Mums. 

Celebrate the season while supporting our talented students. Your support truly makes a difference and we are deeply grateful for every order. Thank you for investing in our students and helping the Mason Bands continue to thrive.

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

Should you have any questions, please feel free to send an email to flowersale@masonbandboosters.com.

Last Chance Senior Product Order!

Thank you to our senior families who picked up their orders last Tuesday!

There were a few requests for late orders when families saw the products in person. If you had swag envy during the product distribution, this is your chance to grab what you missed!

https://form.jotform.com/252105795788167

The late order form will close tonight, August 9, 2026, so make sure you don’t miss this last chance to order!

Instrumentalist Lookbook

Please review the 2026 Instrumentalist Lookbook for performances and competition appearance standards. 

Marchers will need to wear black undergarments this year - see examples in the Lookbook link above. These undergarments need to be worn any time the classic and competition uniforms are worn for performances or competitions. This helps keep our uniforms clean and helps our marchers maintain privacy while changing.

Please contact the Uniform Crew at uniforms@masonbandboosters.com if you have any questions.

“Shared Dot” Information 

Please see this note from the band directors about "dot assignments" in the competitive show, and information about the marching band "shared dot" system for woodwind, brass, percussion and color guard students.

August Booster Meeting - Save the Date

Our next general Booster Meeting will be on Tuesday, August 18, at 7pm in the auditorium. This will be an important meeting with a lot of key information.

Show Your Mason Band Spirit!

Show-themed spirit items are now available to order! This year's ordering process lets you purchase all of your favorite show keepsakes at the start of the season so you won't have to wait for items to be released throughout the fall.

**Please Note: Spirit items are separate from the official show shirt, which will be available through Friday Threads.

Order Deadline

**All online orders must be placed by Friday, August 14.**

Order Here:

https://pci.jotform.com/Masonbands/2026ShowSpirit

While we will have a limited quantity of extras available at competitions and select events, once those items are gone they will not be reordered. Ordering by the deadline is the best way to guarantee you receive the items you'd like.

Available Show-Themed Items

* Show Flag (12" × 18") – $20

* Ornament – $10

* Sticker – $5

* Lanyard – $6

* Luggage Tag – $8

* Button Pin – $5

* Enamel Pin – $8

* Patch – $8

* Grand Nationals Candy Mug – $20

Save with the Show Spirit Package

Purchase one of each show-themed item and receive **10% off!**

**Show Spirit Package: $80**

Frequently Asked Questions

Are lanyards and luggage tags no longer provided to students?

We added the lanyards and luggage tags this year at the request of parents who wanted extras. These items are in addition to the lanyards and luggage tags provided by the Travel Team to our marchers.

Can I see what this year's items will look like?

We have not yet received the final show graphics, so we're unfortunately unable to provide previews at this time. We are doing our best to match the style of previous years so collectors can continue building a coordinated set.

In-Person Spirit Sales

Mason Band yard signs and a selection of non-show-themed Mason Band and Color Guard merchandise will be available for purchase:

**Monday, August 3**

**Green Tent (Bus Circle)**

🕠 5:30–6:00 PM

🕣 8:30–9:00 PM

Thank you for supporting the Mason Bands Spirit Committee. We can't wait to see everyone showing their Mason Band spirit this season!

MB Classic Uniform Fittings this week- 9-11th grade Instrumentalists only

It is time for Marching Band Classic Uniform fittings for 9-11th grade instrumentalists! All 9th-11th grade instrumentalists need to come in for a fitting appointment. During the fitting, marchers will get their classic uniform pieces fitted to them. Please sign up on BoosterHub for a volunteer slot using the link below - you aren’t volunteering, just signing for a time slot). If parents sign up their marcher, please put the marcher’s name in the comments. Marchers should wear/bring undergarments or tight clothing for a proper fitting.

Returning marchers - please bring your black marching shoes to your appointment!

Sign up on BoosterHub:

• Wed. August 12 - 5:00 - 8:45 pm

• Thurs. August 13 - 6:00 - 8:45 pm

• Sat. August 15 - 9:00 am - 12:30 pm

Fittings will be in the high school in the guitar room (where spring sizing was held) - enter band doors, walk straight down the hall, and we will be in a room on the left. Please contact the Uniform Crew at uniforms@masonbandboosters.com if you have any questions.

Note: There will be one additional fitting in the fall after Competition uniforms are in.

SmugMug - Band Camp Edition 

Band is in session, which means our awesome Photo Corps team are also hitting the pavement to get great shots of all our students! Keep an eye on SmugMug all season long for new pics!

There are so many great shots from Band Camp, be sure to check them out!

• Band Camp Week 3
• Skit Night
• Tag Day
• Band Camp Week 2
• History Night
• Band Camp Week 1

For login instructions, see the SmugMug Information sheet in BoosterHub, or email Smugmug@masonbandboosters.com.

Feed the Band!

Looking for an easy way to volunteer for a few hours? Feed the Band is a great way to help! We have Feed the Band before home football games and special events throughout the season. Food is provided by a local restaurant - all we have to do is plate it and put it out, and then clean up afterward. You will also earn lots of gratitude points with our hungry students!

To find and sign up for these events, go to the Volunteer section of BoosterHub, and search for “Feed” - you’ll see the full list of opportunities.

Informational Coffee Talks

Have questions about Marching Band? Not sure what terminology means? Lost in the sea of information and to-do’s? 

This is the place for you!

All new member parents (and returning member parents) are invited to attend our New Member Coffee Talk sessions that we will be holding throughout the season. These sessions are an informal opportunity to socialize with other new parents and have your questions answered by seasoned band parent mentors. 

Our first three sessions will be:

• Wednesday, August 5, 7-8pm in the KIVA - enter through the main lobby entrance go up the stairs on the left then turn left at the top of the stairs and the KIVA is on the left. 
• Tuesday, September 8, 7-8pm in the Staff Dining Room
• Tuesday, October 6, 7-8pm in the Staff Dining Room

To get to the Staff Dining Room, enter the building through the music wing doors at the back of the High School. Walk straight down the hallway past the Band Room entrance, and past the hallway with the trophy cases. The Staff Dining Room is on the right just past that second hallway.

Get Involved

As the largest organization at Mason High School, our band program depends on parent volunteers to provide an outstanding experience for our students! Every family is required to volunteer a minimum of 6 shifts throughout the school year, and with our wide range of opportunities, there is truly something for everyone click here to find out more. 

The Band website also has more great information:

• List of Committees
• Detailed Descriptions:
• Student Experience Committees
• Fundraising Committees
• Event Committees
• Organizational Committees
• Volunteer opportunities

Each board member and committee has a booster email address you can use to contact the chair for questions or to join the committee.

Important: In addition to the required 6 volunteer shifts, every family is expected to help with Tag Day, the Mason Invitational, and the MSBA Championships. These events are essential to the success of our program and require support from all band families.

2026 Marching Band Registration Forms Are Live

The Marching Band 2026 Registration Guide is now live! 

The Registration Guide has detailed information about each step in the process. 

Marching Band Registration Next Steps:

• PAST DUE:
• MB 2026 COMMITMENT FORM
• Marching Band School Fee #1, $400 via PaySchools Central or check to Mason City Schools
• Marching Band School Fee #2, $400 via PaySchools Central or check to Mason City Schools
• Consumables Form and Payment
• Instrumentalists
• Color Guard
• Marching Band School Fee #3, $400 via PaySchools Central or check to Mason City Schools
• Student Experience Fee #1, $400 to Mason Band Boosters
• Invoice were sent on 7/12 via email from: quickbooks@notification.intuit.com
• FINAL FORMS
• Fill out all forms - be sure to switch to 2026-2027
• Upload a current physical - blank physical form

• • • • Note: The 2026-2027 form is not yet available from OHSAA - the 2025-2026 form is still valid

• Complete Student Care Forms
• HWBP: Health And Wellbeing Profile
• SCP: Student Care Plan and Upload SCP Electronically
• DMS: Dispensing Medication at School and Upload DMS Electronically
• Accept BoosterHub Invite (new families)

Other Marching Band Documents: 

• New Member Meeting Slides 2026
• New Member Meeting Handout 2026
• MB 2026 ATTENDANCE POLICY
• MB 2026 FINANCIAL AGREEMENT & REFUND POLICY
• MB 2026 PARENT VOLUNTEER EXPECTATIONS
• MB 2026 Code of Conduct
• MB 2026 Grading Policy
• MB 2026 Travel Policy
• MB 2026 Registration and Data Use Policy

IMPORTANT: For all payments by check - please include the student’s name and student ID and the fee you are paying on the memo line of the check. Example: “Jane Doe 987654 Band Fee 1”

School fees are available in PaySchools Central. You will find the fees under Performing Arts. Scroll to the bottom of that section and look for the ones that start with "NEXT SEASON". All three school fees are live and payable, with the due date for each listed in the name.