October 18, 2026 Band Notes

Upcoming Events

Monday, October 19

• Full Band: 3-6pm; MHS

Tuesday, October 20

• Full Band: 6-9pm; MHS

Wednesday, October 21

• Color Guard: 6-9pm; MHS
• Tour Shirt Orders Due

Thursday, October 22

• Brass and Woodwinds: 3-6pm; MHS
• Percussion: 6-9pm; MHS

Friday, October 23

• Full Band: 3-5pm; MHS
• Dinner provided (Feed the Band) - see menu below
• Football Game vs. Colerain: 6:00pm to approximately 9:30pm (see typical schedule below)
• Note: Any timing updates will be sent through Parent Remind. Details on how to set up parent Remind can be found HERE.

Saturday, October 24

• Full Band: 1-9pm; MHS

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

Parent To Do Checklist For This Week

1. Pay any overdue experience fees #1 and #2.
2. Purchase car raffle tickets 2026 Car Raffle Ticket Order Form, and spread the word about this fundraiser. 
3. Purchase your poinsettias by November 22. Poinsettia Order Form
4. Order your memory book by October 27 for a 10% discount. Order form
5. Optional: Order additional tour shirts by October 21.

NEW INFORMATION

Special Announcement

The William Mason High School Marching Band has officially been invited to perform in the 2027 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! 

The exciting news was revealed to students this past Friday at the end of afternoon rehearsal in a surprise celebration they won’t soon forget.  Adding to the excitement, Macy’s kicked off our fundraising efforts with a generous $10,000 donation, hand-delivered by Mr. Jackson in a turkey costume! Students celebrated with cake, Macy’s swag bags, and plenty of photos with friends as they took in this incredible moment. What an unforgettable way to begin our journey to New York City! 🦃🎈

Fire Horse Tour Shirts - Special Second Chance Order

Our Spirit Committee has worked with Friday Threads to arrange a special second-chance order window for the 2026 Fire Horse Tour Shirts. Whether you missed out on the first order, changed your mind about wanting one, or loved it so much you want more - now is your chance! 

Click here to see the options and order. The order window closes on Wednesday, October 21 at 11:59pm. Shirts will be ready in time for Grand Nats.

For any questions, please reach out to shirts@masonbandboosters.com.

Poinsettia Sale is Live Now

Our Annual Poinsettia Fundraiser Is Here! 

Celebrate the beauty and joy of the season while supporting the Mason Bands!

Our annual Poinsettia Sale is officially LIVE! Whether you’re adding festive color to your home or sharing the spirit of the season with a thoughtful gift, our beautiful poinsettias are the perfect choice.

Need gifts for Mason teachers and staff? We’ve got you covered! Place your orders, and we’ll take care of the delivery.

Every purchase makes a difference and helps support our talented student musicians. Thank you for your continued generosity and for investing in our students and the Mason Bands. Your support means so much to us!

Order link: https://form.jotform.com/Masonbands/mason-poinsettia

Order today and help us make this season merry, bright, and full of music!

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

Final Home Football Game This Friday Night!

Feed the Band

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

Our final home football game meal is sponsored by the Mason Band Boosters and Torchy’s Tacos:

Torchy’s Tacos

7673 Blake Street, Suite 100

Liberty Township, Ohio 45069

The Menu* will be as follows:

Regular/Halal/Nut Free:

Chicken Fajita Taco: grilled fajita chicken on a four tortilla with peppers and onions, mixed cheese, roja salsa and cheese. Chips and Queso. Cookie. 

Vegetarian/Vegan/Dairy Free/Gluten Free: Fresh Avocado Taco: Fresh avocado on a corn tortilla with pinto beans, lettuce, pico de gallo. Optional cheese on the side. Chips and Queso. Cookie.

Dietary Restrictions & Allergies

Dietary designations are for informational purposes only and are not a guarantee of safety for individual dietary needs. Families are responsible for referring to restaurant nutrition and allergen information, determining what is appropriate for their student and making alternate arrangements as needed. 

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

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. Tickets can be purchased directly HERE the week of the game or by using the HomeTown ticketing app (select:  William Mason High School).

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 Beacon building 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 Beacon 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. Students cannot leave the stadium during third quarter. 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 Tyler Buckner at  vp-studentexperience@masonbandboosters.com

Typical Friday Night Home Schedule - All Times are Approximate

Medical Secretary Notes

A FEW REMINDERS:

1. 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 by email: MedicalSecretary -
2. 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 Grand National travel dates!  Click Here to access our Medication Policy (i.e. blank DMS forms and upload instructions).
3. BOA GRAND NATIONALS: travel dates 11/12 - 11/15. 
1. Booster Hub Sign Ups are Open! 
2. Drop off times 11/9/26 4:30 - 6:30 pm at Let’s Play rehearsal. 
3. Please put your student’s name in ‘notes’ when signing up. 
4. You are signing up to drop off medications, not volunteer.
5. Link to sign up for drop off:  Booster Hub Sign Ups

🎺Spirit Needs Your Help!

We have two upcoming opportunities to lend a hand as we prepare for Grand Nationals! Whether you’re crafty or love decorating, we’d appreciate your help.

Candy Mug Assembly:

We will need four crafty helpers to assemble the pre-ordered candy mugs on Monday, October 26, 6-8pm. All supplies and pizza will be provided. Plan to meet in the teacher work room. If you have a glue gun, it may come in handy.

Hall Decorating:

Help decorate the band hall for Grand Nats week! We will need four helpers to set up decorations and hang posters on Sunday, November 8, 6-9PM. Plan to meet at the band crossroads.

To sign up for either event, please visit booster hub or email spirit@masonbandboosters.com. 

Thank you for supporting our band and helping make Grand Nationals special for our students!

Grand Nationals Hotel Update

Grand Nationals Hotel Assignment

We finally have our Grand Nationals hotel assignment! 🎉

We’ll be staying at two connected hotels:

Indianapolis Marriott East
7202 East 21st St, Indianapolis, IN 46219

The Fontana Hotel
7304 East 21st St, Indianapolis, IN 46219

A quick note on how this works. We don’t book our own hotel. Housing is assigned by the Bands of America housing board. We requested downtown, and this year was especially competitive. 22 bands asked for downtown accommodations, and there was only room for 10. Bands staying 3+ nights were given priority, so we’ve been assigned hotels about 15 minutes from Lucas Oil Stadium.

We know near Lucas Oil  is where we’d all like to be, but there are pros and cons to all options. How we respond to it is what matters. We have a great group of students and families, and we know we’ll make the most of it.

Marching Band 101 for Parents - 10/18 Edition

New to Marching Band and have questions about what your student is doing or learning? Have you watched rehearsal and wondered how it all works? Each week in Marching Band 101 in Band Notes you’ll learn a little something new. 

Marching Band Competition Spectator Etiquette/Dos and Don’ts 

Having never participated in band myself, marching band was a whole new world to me when my son joined. Before band, I was accustomed to the world of competitive sports where competition was fierce and matches and games ended with half-hearted hand touches and a muttered “good game” that often felt performative. Imagine my surprise sitting in the audience at my first Grand Nationals watching as the bands were invited to “break ranks” and suddenly kids from all over the country were running to opposing bands trading trinkets and bits of uniforms, forming conga lines, taking selfies and exchanging Instagrams. 

The culture of marching band couldn’t be more different than the culture of competitive sports. At its core, we remember that marching band is an educational endeavor, hence being a co-curricular activity rather than an extra-curricular one. It’s about kids engaging with great music and growing as musicians. The arts enrich us as individuals and our society as a whole and serve as a way to connect communities and cultures. One of our Mason parents captured an inspiring photo at Grand Nats last year of two members of two finalist bands reaching out across the aisle to fist bump each other as they waited for final results to be announced. These bands finished 2nd and 3rd at Grand Nationals, in direct competition with each other, but these kids understood it’s about much more than in what place they finish. There is deep appreciation among the students for what other programs produce. They recognize and acknowledge the talent, effort, and dedication it takes to perform in marching band at any level.   

As we find ourselves at marching band competitions watching and hearing these young people, let’s take a lesson from our kids in appreciating the efforts of all these bands. So here are some Dos and Don’ts to keep in mind as we honor and acknowledge every band competing!

DO cheer for our Comets anytime you are proud, moved, or impressed by their talent and effort.

DON’T hesitate to cheer for competing bands.

DO remain seated throughout performances to ensure all audience members can enjoy the performances.

DO encourage an environment of respect by refraining from talking during other bands’ performances.

DO tell parents of other bands how much you’ve enjoyed their school’s program

DON’T forget to cheer for soloists and featured parts from all bands.

DO take pride in representing our Mason bands program and our Mason community when interacting with staff, spectators, and vendors at all competitions.

DON’T forget the band community is small and you never know with whom you are interacting in elevators, lobbies, queues, etc. Judges are everywhere. 

DO strike up conversations with the people around you at events. (My mom found herself sitting next to someone who turned out to be a marching band judge at Grand Nats and learned a TON from him about how to watch and listen to the bands.)

DON’T forget to wear your Fire Horse and/or Mason Bands gear with pride.

DO compliment and congratulate students from all programs as you encounter them in venues, hotels, and out and about.

DON’T forget to tell your band member how much you have enjoyed watching them perform and how very proud of them you are.

DO share any great images you’ve captured on our Mason Band Parents and Families page.

DON’T forget to stop and soak up the moments. Your kid is part of something very special.

DO thank our incredibly hardworking volunteers, chaperones, Band Aids, directors, and pit crew!   

All instrumentalists, guard members, and directors from every marching band are enriching the world and our society through the sharing of artistry and music. Let us all take pride in supporting them and representing our Mason Bands community well. 

Website Tip:

As the season goes on you’ll see and hear a lot of acronyms used when discussing competitions. The Mason Bands website contains a helpful Glossary of Acronyms. Check it out!

REMINDERS

Please pay your band fees! 

Students with unpaid fees will not be able to sign up for hotel rooms for Grand Nationals. We know circumstances can change, so if your situation has changed, please reach out to travel@masonbandboosters.com. We’d love to work with you!

**Please note now that we have received our hotel confirmation final payment invoices will be sent soon.**

Order Your Memory Book by October 27!

Every year, the Photo Corps puts together a memory book to celebrate the season, covering  band camps, rehearsals, games, competitions, and behind-the-scene moments. This year’s memory book will be a soft cover book with approximately 70 pages. If you order by October 27, you have the option to create your own custom pages to make sure your students have their favorite pictures featured!

Books are $50 if ordered by October 27, 2025. After that, the price increases to $55.

memory book order form

Grand Nats Booster Meeting - Save the Date

Our next General Booster Meeting will be on Thursday, October 29, at 7pm. This is a CRITICAL meeting, as this will be our last parent meeting prior to Grand Nats.

Picture Yourself in a Brand New Audi!!!!

This HOT 2026 Audi Q3 could be yours! 

Mason Band Boosters is thrilled to announce we will once again be partnering with Audi Cincinnati East for our 2026 Car Raffle. A HUGE thank you to them for the donation! We are very excited! 

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 4,000 Tickets And To Give Away This Fabulous Vehicle Or A Cash Prize!  

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW NOW

Raffle Period - Raffle runs NOW until November 6th at 5pm OR until 4,000 tickets are sold...whichever comes first!

Drawing - Saturday, November 7th, 2026 at the MSBA AAAAA Championships, hosted at Mason. Need not be present to win!

Prizes - 

• Grand Prize -  2026 Audi Q3 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 or older and a Resident of Ohio to purchase or be named on the ticket.

Ticket Prices - 1 ticket-$25 or 5 for $100 (to same individual)

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

Ticket Purchases - Tickets can be purchased two ways:

1. Online via the 2026 Car Raffle Ticket Order Form
2. In person at home football games and the Mason Invitational

Band Family Sales - We are NOT distributing paper tickets to band families this year, but we are still asking each family to sell (or buy) at least 13 tickets to help make this a successful fundraiser.

• Please share the link and QR code with family and friends. Feel free to share it via social media as well.

Information regarding the Car Raffle can be found on our website here. 

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

Competition Subcommittee Leads Needed

The competition committee is in need of your help!  We are looking for subcommittee leads to handle several different areas for the MSBA Championship on 11/7. 

Competitions are an important fundraiser for the boosters, but most importantly provide a high quality competition experience for the many bands and students we host.  Subcommittee leads are vital to making sure we continue our reputation as one of the best marching band competitions in the area. Please note that shadow positions will learn the ropes from current leads who have seniors, with the shadow taking over the role next year.  

Areas with Shadowing Needs:

• Band Check-In/Band Guides/Water Station 
• Programs
• Awards/Trophies
• Spectator Parking
• Shout out/Candy Grams
• Ushers

Please email the competition committee at competitions@masonbandboosters.com for more information.

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.  Signed-up students will now 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 are three remaining Secret Buddy exchanges this season:

• 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.

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:

• Due October 1 (postponed until Grand Nats hotel is confirmed):
• Student Experience Fee #3, to Mason Band Boosters
• Invoice will be sent out via email from: quickbooks@notification.intuit.com
• 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
• Student Experience Fee #2, $400 to Mason Band Boosters
• Invoices were sent on 8/16 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
• 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.