July 20, 2025 Band Notes

Upcoming Events

Note: Do not park in the Band Lot during camp unless you have an assigned spot. Access is needed for students painting their designated spaces.  Alternate option is the Staff Parking area outside B Pod (the opposite side of the bus circle from the Band Lot.).

Sunday, July 20

• Deadline to apply to be a Rack Captain  

Monday, July 21

• Color Guard: 9am-5pm; MHS
• On-campus break 12pm-12:45pm
• Brass+Woodwind+Percussion: 1pm-9pm; MHS
• On-campus dinner break 4:30pm-5:30pm

Tuesday, July 22

• Color Guard: 9am-5pm; MHS
• On-campus break 12pm-12:45pm
• Brass+Woodwind+Percussion: 1pm-9pm; MHS
• On-campus dinner break 4:30pm-5:30pm
• Photo Corps Meeting: 7pm; Harvard Room

Wednesday, July 23

• Color Guard: 9am-5pm; MHS
• On-campus break 12pm-12:45pm
• Brass+Woodwind+Percussion: 1pm-9pm; MHS
• On-campus dinner break 4:30pm-5:30pm

Thursday, July 24

• Full Band: 9am-5pm; MHS
• On-campus break 12pm-12:45pm
• All Band Social: 7-9pm; MHS Large Commons

Friday, July 25

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

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

Parent To Do Checklist For This Week

1. Pay Experience Fee 1 by August 1 - invoices were sent out on July 19.
2. (Optional) Order Ultimate Drill Book by July 27 (see below).
3. Fill out Section Dinner Interest form by this Tuesday, July 22. (see below).
4. Sign up in BoosterHub for medication drop off for camp. Time slots are for drop off, not to volunteer to work. Times are on Monday 7/21 from 8:30-9:30 am and 12:30-1:30 pm We MUST have an active (2025 date) DMS on file for each medication dropped off. Contact Medical Secretary, Sally McDonald for any questions regarding medications at medicalsecretary@masonbandboosters.com

NEW INFORMATION

Parking Reminders

The safety of our students is our top priority! We have over 230 students arriving for practices, many student drivers/new drivers, and students and volunteers unloading equipment and moving it through both parking lots - nothing is more important than keeping them all safe!

During Band Camp: Do NOT park in the Band Lot during camp unless you have an assigned spot there. Access is needed for students painting their designated spaces. Alternate option is the Staff Parking area outside B Pod (the opposite side of the bus circle from the Band Lot.).

As always, please:

• Drive SLOWLY through the back parking lot, watching for pedestrians.
• The parking lot is ONE WAY, counter-clockwise (see arrows in image). Do NOT drive the wrong way, even for a short distance.
• Do NOT drive or park in the bus circle before/during/after band practices, even if it looks like there is no one there.
• Do not drive on the ramp between the parking lot and bus circle - it is for band instruments, props, and equipment only, it is NOT to be used by an automobile as a crossing.
• When dropping off students, please PULL UP as far as possible along the building to speed up drop-off for everyone - do not stop right by the door.
• If your students need to get items out of the back of the car, or you are changing drivers, please PARK. This not only speeds up drop-off, but reduces the risk of cars cutting around dangerously.
• When picking up students, you MUST PARK - do NOT pick up at the curb. Note that you can park in the staff lot outside B Pod (the other side of the bus circle) as well as in the Band Lot.
• Exception: If practice has already dismissed and your student is waiting at the curb, you can pull up to pick them up.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Tag Day - Saturday, Aug. 2

Our biggest fundraiser of the year is TAG DAY - when our students work in teams to canvas our Mason neighborhoods and ask for support. In addition to raising money for our program, this is a great team-building opportunity for the students, who will work in teams that include both under- and upper-class student members.

Parent volunteer involvement is CRITICAL to the success of TAG DAY. To make this work, we will be creating approximately 50 teams of students and each team will need 1 or 2 adult licensed drivers. Students and adult drivers meet Saturday morning in the Small Commons by 9 AM for the kick-off. We will provide instructions and neighborhood assignments. Volunteers will drive their team of students to their assigned neighborhoods and their team will go door to door requesting donations. We make sure that every team includes an upper-class student who is a “veteran” of TAG DAY. Once a team is finished canvassing their assigned neighborhood, they return to the Small Commons with their donations and supplies and are released for the day.  

So - yes - that means 75-100 volunteers willing to give up a few hours of their time to support the band AND hang out with a group of amazing band kids.

Student teams are being put together now and you may be approached by your student to be a volunteer driver. Please PLEASE say “YES” to your student band member and sign up as a driver in BoosterHub. Please indicate the number of passengers you can take in the comment field on the volunteer signup.

If you wish to drive and your student does not ask you, please still sign up in BoosterHub.  

And please note that although everyone wants to drive a team that includes their own child/grandchild, that isn’t always possible, although we try very hard to make that match. 

Informational Coffee Talks

Have questions about Marching Band? Not sure what terminology means? Lost of 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 are scheduled as follows:

• Wednesday, August 6, 7-8pm in the Staff Dining Room
• Tuesday, September 9, 7-8pm in the Staff Dining Room
• Wednesday, October 8, 7-8pm in the Small Commons

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.

The Small Commons is immediately inside the Bus Circle doors to the building.

Photo Corps Meeting

Attention Photo Corps members - we will have an informational meeting this Tuesday, July 22, at 7pm in the Harvard Room. Please join us if you are able.

Enter through the Music Wing doors, proceed to the Large Commons, then follow the hallway to left (towards the front office). The Harvard Room will be on your right.

REMINDERS

Band Camp 2025 Guidebook

It’s July, and that means Band Camp is soon to be upon us! Be sure to check the BAND CAMP GUIDEBOOK as the “one stop shop” for all the information. The most important aspect is the weekly schedule with times, special events, and theme days!

Section Dinners - Seeking Interest

Band Camp - Week 3 includes 4-6pm Off Campus Breaks (excluding Tuesday), and we’re looking to see if band families would be interested in coordinating or hosting a Section Dinner during one of these designated times. This is a perfect chance to build section spirit and refuel our hard-working musicians!  This would be for the section of your student.

Options could include:

• Coordinating a potluck meal at your home
• Hosting and/or treating the section at a local restaurant
• Coordinating with other families to compose a shared plan

Whether you’re a drumline devotee or a brass backer, we’d love for you to pitch in! If you're interested, please let us know by this Tuesday, July 22 via this Section Dinner - Google Interest Form. 

Let’s make Band Camp Week 3 a high note for everyone!

Interested In Becoming A Student Rack Captain?

Calling all Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Marching Band members:

The Uniform Crew is now seeking students to serve as Rack Captains! Rack Captains are essential student leaders who assist the Uniform Crew to make sure each marcher is dressed correctly when in uniform and that uniforms are stored properly after every performance. Many Rack Captains also assist the U-Crew by helping with uniform fittings, teaching new marchers proper storage of uniform pieces, and many other tasks regarding marching band uniforms. If interested, please fill out the Rack Captain Application by TODAY July 20, 2025 11:59pm. Email uniforms@masonbandboosters.com with any questions.

Ultimate Drill Book - Optional

This year we again have the ability to allow students and families who like having access to the “Ultimate Drill Book” tool to purchase this individually for the season. This is not required, and is completely optional only for families/students. This is the same drill tool that the directors and staff use, and allow students to hear and see their individual “dot” in the show as the drill moves with the music on their device. The cost is $10 plus tax, that covers the entire season. Families can purchase anytime between now and July 27th. 

To Purchase UDB for your student: 

1. Go to this link: CLICK HERE
2. Add the subscription to your cart 
3. Pay the fee ($10.30) 
4. Download the "UDB" app from the App Store on your phone or Ipad (see UDB website for compatible devices) 
5. Once per week on Wednesdays, Mr. Hinson will receive an email from UDB with students that have purchased. Students will then receive an email to their school email with the ensemble code that allows them to join the Mason UDB group. 

If you'd like to learn more about UDB before purchasing, see this video from the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps about UDB: CLICK HERE

Tutorial for students on how to use UDB: CLICK HERE

2025 Marching Band Next Steps

Marching Band Registration Next Steps:

• Registration Guide is now live.
• Due August 1:
• Student Experience Fee #1, $400 to Mason Band Boosters
• Invoice were sent on 7/19 via email from: quickbooks@notification.intuit.com
• PAST DUE: 
• 2025 MARCHING BAND COMMITMENT & FINANCIAL AGREEMENT
• Band School Fee #1, $400 via PaySchools Central or check to Mason City Schools
• Band School Fee #2, $400 via PaySchools Central or check to Mason City Schools
• Band School Fee #3, $400 via PaySchools Central or check to Mason City Schools
• FINAL FORMS
• Fill out all forms
• Upload a current physical
• 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

Other Marching Band Documents: 

• Marching Band Summer Dates 2025 - One Pager
• Marching Band Summer Dates 2025 - Packet
• 2025 Marching Band Drop Form
• 2025 Marching Band Handbook
• Color Guard Handbook Extension

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. 

Members of Our Band Family Need Us

Thank you to those that donated so far. Fuz and the Burton family have greatly appreciated your support. You can still donate to the GoFundMe.