October 29, 2023 Band Notes

MSBA Championships; Please see below for complete details and schedule.
Medication Drop Off for Grand Nats 11am-12pm: HS Staff Dining Room (Please see below for details)

Sunday, November 5

Transportation Waiver Due 11:59pm (Details below)

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

Parent To Do Checklist For This Week

Sign up to volunteer for the MSBA Regional Championships; Volunteers receive free admission to the event.
Attend MSBA Championships on Saturday
Order Spirit Wear if desired (Details below)
Drop off medications your student needs for Grand Nats on Saturday, 11/4 11am-12pm. (Please see below for complete details)
Complete Grand Nationals Transportation Waiver due next Sunday, 11/5 11:59pm if you plan to transport your student home (see Grand Nationals Transportation Waiver section below).
Students- Please complete the temperature check found below.

NEW INFORMATION

Attendance Reminders

Attendance is a vital component of a successful marching band program during these final two weeks of the season. During these final two weeks, there will be many changes and finishing touches to the show that will help students truly feel the energy and emotions that make a marching band show so memorable! Absences, no matter the reason, have a negative impact on the achievement and environment of the entire group. We ask that during these final two weeks that students and families make an effort to keep any absences within the excused/unavoidable absence category, to ensure the success of the entire organization as we approach Grand Nationals.

As a reminder, here are the description of absences from the Marching Band Handbook:

Excused Absence Examples: Illness, conflicts approved by a Director (more than 2 weeks in advance), death in the family, private lessons.
Unexcused Absences Examples: Absent with no communication, homework/work, birthday dinners, fall vacations, family gatherings, concerts.

Continue to communicate with the director that works with your section as soon as possible if you have attendance concerns.

Mental Health Temperature Check

Attention Marching Band Students: If you have not yet done so, please fill out the Post Super Regional Temperature Check that Mr. Schlaeger had the directors send out this week via Remind. It is similar to the one that was sent out prior to super regionals, but contains an additional question involving any takeaway/needs after our last trip. This will help us as we look towards the near future and Grand Nats. This form is intended to be filled out by the students. Thanks to all of the students who have filled out the temperature checks so far.

Please also refer to the Marching Band Mental Health Resource Guide page for mental health resources and contact information for those you can reach out to for help. We are incredibly thankful for Mr. Schlaeger’s partnership as the school Psychologist and the band’s mental health liaison. He can be reached at schlaegerj@masonohioschools.com.

MSBA Championships

Student Schedule

9:00-9:30	Arrive and unload truck instruments (MMS back parking lot)
9:30-12:00	Rehearsal (MHS + Stadium)
12:00-1:00	Lunch at MHS Bring your own or have food dropped off
1:00-4:00	Rehearsal in Stadium Bring everything needed to load the truck at the end of the night (cases).
4:00-4:30	Rehearsal Ends Clean up Stadium Move Pit to MMS Auditorium Move props and podiums to MMS truck lot Make sure truck instruments have cases at the truck in MMS lot for loading after the show. Head back to MHS
4:30-6:00	Dinner (provided) at MHS Change into Competition Uniforms at MHS
6:00	Assemble in Bus Circle
6:15	Walk to Warm Up A in MMS Front Parking Lot
6:30-7:15	Warm up in Area A
7:30	Perform at MSBA AAAAA Championships!
7:45	Water Sit in endzone Band Stands to watch Miamisburg HS Pit will have moved back to truck lot to load
9:15	Awards (Full Retreat)
After Awards	Truck Instruments head to truck to pack and load. Everyone heads back to MHS Change out of uniforms Dismissed! *next rehearsal is Monday at Wall2Wall 3:30-6:30.

Volunteer Needs

Thanks so much to everyone who has signed up to volunteer for the Invitational this Saturday! We have a fun and exciting weekend ahead and there is absolutely no way we could do it without all of you. Thanks to all of our band families and friends, we now only have 23 volunteer slots to fill. If you have not already, please consider signing up for a slot. We could also use more donations for our hospitality area and bake sale. (links are below)

***Please remember all marching band families agreed to volunteer one shift of each of our competitions that we host. Please see the marching band handbook for details. 2023/2024 Marching Band Handbook

Guest/VIP Parking-10 open spots (Critical) each

Concessions-6 open spots (Critical)

Ticketing-3 open spots (Critical)

Truck and Bus Parking-2 open spots

Extra Helpers-2 open spots

Bake Sale Donations (Does not count towards volunteer hours)

Hospitality Donations (Does not count towards volunteer hours)

Monetary donations can be made HERE

If you have any questions, please contact our competitions team at competitions@masonbandboosters.com. Thanks again for your help in making the MSBA Competition a fun and successful event!

Event Information

Information regarding tickets, parking, band schedule, etc. can be found HERE

Medication Drop Off For Grand National Competition

If your student will need medication for Grand Nationals (OTC or Rx)
that has not already been turned in, please sign up in Charms to
drop off medication.

Med Drop off will be on Saturday, November 4th 11:00am - 12:00pm
Location: HS STAFF DINING- use the band entrance
Direct link to sign up in Charms HERE

Please read the Medication Policy in advance. You will need to prepare your student’s medication with a completed med insert card placed in a ziploc bag with their medication following the instructions in our Medication Check-in Guide. You will find all the latest information about how we manage medication on MasonBands.com here.

Remember to upload DMS forms here prior to the drop-off event. Must be signed by both the medication provider and parent.

We also strongly encourage you to fill out DMS forms for Ibuprofen, Tylenol, and Benadryl if your student has ever taken those medications in the past. We will not be able to dispense those medications to your student unless the proper forms have been filled out and signed. Please note that students may not carry any medications themselves, including common over the counter medications, unless they are emergency medications and the appropriate forms have been submitted.

For questions or to schedule an alternate drop off appointment, email Lisa Oldham - medicalsecretary@masonbandboosters.com or Mike McCallister - registration@masonbandboosters.com

Grand Nationals Transportation Waiver

If you plan to check out your student to transport them home from Grand Nationals, you will need to complete the Google form below by Next Sunday, November 5, 2023 at 11:59pm. See form for check out times/locations and for more information.

2023 Grand Nationals Transportation Waiver Form

Detailed itinerary and checklist will be posted in next week’s Band Notes. See Booster Meeting Slides section above for tentative itinerary and more information.

Attention Class of 2024 Parents

We would like to recognize each of the seniors at our Marching Band Awards Ceremony tentatively planned for Tuesday, January 16, 2024. If you have attended this celebration in the past, you know that we like to put together a slide show of pictures submitted by each senior’s family. The family keeps the picture choices a secret from their student until the big night. So how can you help us? Please start picking out your favorite pictures, usually about 3-4 pictures from infancy to now. Please scan and email them to: seniors@masonbandboosters.com

Be sure to include the name of your student.

****We need this information NO LATER THAN November 22, 2023****

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to seniors@masonbandboosters.com

Spirit Committee - Decorating The Music Wing

HELP NEEDED - We are looking for helpers to aid in the coordination of the MUSIC WING DECORATION and coordinate the COLLECTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF SIGNS. Please contact Gina Marshall, at spirit@masonbandboosters.com, if you are interested in helping to lead these events.

On Monday, November 6, we are decorating lockers and hallways at the high school to wish our band members good luck for Grand Nats! We need some volunteers to help on this day right after school, 3:00pm - 5:30pm. You will be hanging signs and other themed items to dress up the hallways. If you are able to help, please let Gina Marshall know at spirit@masonbandboosters.com

If you have a personal sign to hang please bring it to the school during that time and we will make sure it gets hung up even if you are not able to stay and help.

***SIGN DROP OFF - If you have a sign you want displayed in the halls that week but cannot be there to decorate you can drop it off at the spirit booth on Saturday, November 4th during the Championships between 6 and 8pm.

We will take down all the signs from the school Wednesday the 8th and take them to the send offs on Thursday for spectators to hold.

If you have any questions about this event please contact Gina at spirit@masonbandboosters.com.

Band Send Offs For Grand Nationals

First, Thank you to Mindy Tebbe for coordinating the send offs for the Super Regional, and personally making countless signs for so many families. Thanks to her efforts, those send-offs were a big success!!

WHAT IS IT? The Send-off is an opportunity for families to cheer on the Band as they drive off in the buses to Indianapolis. This is optional, but also A LOT OF FUN!

Bring anything you can think of to send them off in Style! Ideas include : fatheads / signs / flags / balloons / noise makers
We are there to cheer them on and make them feel like the SUPERSTARS that they are!!
EVERYONE IS WELCOME - Family, Friends, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Etc. We would love to see as many people as possible.

WHEN IS IT?

Thursday, November 9 - at Marion's Piazza (THIS IS THE BIG ONE!!!)
- 11:30 AM -12:00 PM
- Come Early - If the band finishes lunch early they will leave early
- Someone from the Spirit Committee will bring the section signs and personal signs from the Music Wing Decorations for people to hold up. You don’t need to return to the school to retrieve yours.
Friday, November 10 - in the Wall2Wall Parking Lot
- 12:30 - 12:45 PM

** Watch the band schedule as this gets closer. The times could still change!!!

If you have any questions about these events please contact Gina at spirit@masonbandboosters.com.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Families cannot go into Marion’s or Wall2Wall during this time. There are a lot of moving parts to get the band on the buses and moving ON TIME. We are there to cheer them on, but we cannot get in the way. Thanks!!

We don’t usually plan anything, but many parents bring items to welcome them home from Indy, too.

Band Spirit Merchandise

Are you interested in buying Band merchandise themed for "Enchanted Promises" or the Rose Parade? You may have seen Fan Flags, Stickers or Magnets floating around this season. There are many places to find Band Merchandise.

General Spirit Items - including NEW ITEMS (Buttons, Luggage Tags, Stickers, etc.)

https://form.jotform.com/Masonbands/mason-band-product-order-form
More items are added to this form throughout the season so bookmark this link so you can find it again quickly.

Redbubble - Band art on a variety of products:

https://www.redbubble.com/people/MasonBand/shop?asc=u

Friday Threads - Apparel:

https://www.fridaythreads.com/store/mason-band-spirit-wear

PREFER SHOPPING IN PERSON? There will be merchandise available for purchase at the spirit booth during the MSBA Championships on Saturday, November 4th.

If you have questions, contact Gina using the email Spirit@masonbandboosters.com

Booster Meeting Slides

Thanks to everyone who attended the booster meeting Thursday night! It was nice to see so many of you there. For those of you who were unable to attend the meeting last night, you can find the slides HERE. Please note that the schedules for both the MSBA Championships and Grand Nationals are subject to change.

REMINDERS

Marching Band Secret Buddies

Reminder: The next Secret Buddy exchange is this Saturday!

Dates:

11/4- MSBA Championships
11/10- Grand Nationals (Friday of Grand Nationals)

Disney And Band Fest Update

The Band’s Rose Parade Committee received official confirmation from the Tournament of Roses Music Committee that we will indeed be performing in Bandfest on December 29th. The event begins at 2:00pm. We do not yet have confirmation of performance order for our block.This does mean we will be marching through Disneyland on December 30th. We will update the itineraries with more exact times of our band’s performances on those days as they become available.

The updated itineraries can be found HERE. Please see bullet point #4.

Marching Band Next Steps

Next Up

November 15th- Remaining Rose Trip Balance Due. Payment can be made to Bob Rogers Travel

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.