Mountaineer Middle Band Boosters

There will be a band party this Friday, October 14, 2022 at Mountaineer Middle School from 6:00-8:00 p.m. The theme chosen by the 8th graders is Mr. Shaffer’s favorite holiday: “Cramus”! Wear your ugly Christmas sweaters, and your Parisian berets. Don’t forget about the magical ferrets! The boosters will provide pizza and snacks. This party is for MMS band members only. Check your email for more information and be sure to look for a sign-up genius to help out with additional items needed. And, as always, we need parent chaperones! Let us know if you’re able to help.

• The band will be traveling to perform in the Forest Festival parade and field show in Elkins on Saturday, October 8, 2022.
• Arrive to Mountaineer Middle School at 8:30 a.m.
• Wear clothes that will fit under the uniform: shorts, thin warm-up pants, or leggings, blue band t-shirt (wear a long-sleeved shirt under the blue band t-shirt if it’s cold). Bring uniform in the garment bag: black Dinkles shoes, black socks, uniform pants, uniform jacket. Don’t forget the helmet. Field commanders, majorettes, and silks should wear uniform as decided by their instructor.
• Bring all equipment/instruments.
• A sweatshirt or hoodie to put on following the parade/field show might be a good idea.
• Buses will leave MMS around 9:00 a.m.
• Students will eat a bagged lunch from home when we arrive in Elkins. Please send a lunch with your child. No sugar drinks, please. Water is best.
• The parade begins at 1:30 p.m.
• Following the parade, students will get back on the buses and will be taken to Elkins High School for the field show performance. MMS performs at 5:15 p.m.
• If you plan to sign your child out after the field show performace, you’ll need to meet the band at the buses, retrieve your child’s items from the bus, and sign out with Mr. Shaffer.
• We will stop for a fast food dinner on our way home. Students should bring money for their dinner. Please speak with Mr. Shaffer discreetly if this is a financial hardship.
• Arrive back to Mountaineer Middle School around 8:30 p.m. We will send out a remind message when we are 30 minutes from Morgantown.

• The UHS Homecoming Parade will be Wednesday, October 5, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. on High Street.
• Lineup is 5:00 p.m. on Willey Street by the Book Exchange.
• We will wear full uniforms. No helmets. Don’t forget blue band t-shirts, black socks and black Dinkles shoes. Band commanders, majorettes, and silks should wear the uniform as decided by their instructor. Students should arrive fully dressed in uniform with their instruments/equipment.
• Do not bring instrument cases to the parade lineup location.
• Mr. Shaffer will be at Mountaineer Middle’s band room on October 5 from 4:00-4:20 for any students who need to pick up instruments/equipment.
• When the band has finished the parade, students will be dismissed to their families. Please make arrangements to meet your child when they’re done marching.

• October 3, 2022
• Mr. Shaffer will be at MMS until 4:15 p.m. for students to pick up drums and tubas
• Students should arrive at UHS in full uniform between 4:45 and 5:00 p.m.
• Uniform pants, uniform jacket, helmet, black socks, black Dinkles shoes, blue band t-shirt
• Majorettes/silks should wear uniform as decided by their instructor
• The band will practice with UHS and Westwood at 5:00 p.m.
• The band will perform at 6:00 p.m.
• Students will need to bring all equipment including flip folders
• Students will be dismissed to their parents following the performance
• The show will include fifteen middle school, high school, and college bands
• Tickets are $10 for spectators. Mountaineer Middle band members do not need to purchase tickets.

• Parade is Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Students should bring uniforms/instruments/equipment to school with them Friday morning.
  • Uniform pants, uniform jacket, helmet, black socks, black Dinkles shoes, blue band t-shirt, garment bag
  • Majorettes/silks should wear the uniform as decided by their instructor.
  • Instrument/equipment
  • Students will need money for lunch/snacks/rides
• Itinerary:
  • 9:00 a.m. Load bus at Mountaineer Middle School.
  • 1:00 p.m. Lineup for parade.
  • 2:00 p.m. Parade
  • 5:30 p.m. (approximately) Return to Mountaineer Middle School.
• If you wish to take your child with you after the parade, you will need to meet the band at the buses, retrieve your child’s items from the bus, and SIGN OUT with Mr. Shaffer. If you plan to sign out a student other than your child, that student’s parents/guardians must send in a note to Mr. Shaffer by September 22, 2022.

• Attention: 8th grade parents/guardians
• From: Mr. Palmer, UHS band director

The University High School Band cordially invites your 8th graders to participate in our first Middle School Band Night at the UHS vs. Wheeling Park football game on Friday, September 16, 2022 at 7:30 p.m.

Your students will join the UHS band for their pre-game show, playing the National Anthem version that the middle schools recently played at PNC Park, and the UHS Fight Song that was handed out at school.

Middle schoolers can join the UHS band in the band stands during the game–likely to be their favorite part–then watch the UHS halftime performance from the field.

After halftime, the UHS band boosters will provide snacks FREE OF CHARGE and the middle school students can hang out with the UHS kids during the 3rd quarter break.

Middle school students should report to the UHS band room at 6:30 p.m. They will warm-up with the UHS band in the band room and then they will all march over to the field together. Because they are “with the band”, the middle school students will not have to pay to get in.

We are all looking forward to what is guaranteed to be a fun night for everyone. The UHS band has a blast at football games and we know the 8th graders will too!

***8th graders should wear: blue band t-shirts, jeans, black crew socks, black Dinkles. Band commanders, majorettes, and silks should wear their uniform as decided by their instructor***

• Times listed are when the event begins. Band report times will be communicated closer to each event. Some event times are still TBA.

• 9/30/22 Buckwheat Festival (arrive to school normally)
• 10/3/22 UHS Showcase of Bands 6:00 p.m. Students should report to UHS between 4:45-5:00 p.m.
• 10/5/22 UHS Homecoming Parade
• 10/8/22 Forest Festival
• 10/28/22 WVU Homecoming Parade
• 11/11/22 Morgantown Veteran’s Day Parade
• 12/5/22 Morgantown Christmas Parade 6:30 p.m.

• All band students should attend practice on Monday, August 8, 2022 from 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. at Mountaineer Middle School’s band room.
• The Mon County Fair Parade will be on Monday, August 8, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. on High Street.
• Lineup is 6:45 p.m. on Willey Street by the Book Exchange.
• We will wear summer uniforms: blue band t-shirts, black shorts, black crew socks, and black Dinkles shoes. Band commanders, majorettes, and silks should wear the uniform as decided by their instructor. Students should arrive fully dressed in summer uniform with their instruments/equipment.
• Do not bring instrument cases to the parade lineup location.
• When the band has finished the parade, students will be dismissed to their families. Please make arrangements to meet your child when they’re done marching.
• As with any parade, weather can sometimes be a concern. Look for a remind message/email and check this website for updates.

Tickets

• Your child will receive the Pirates tickets you ordered at Tuesday’s practice.
• Band members’ tickets will not be included in those envelopes. We will be handing band members’ tickets out as we enter the game after we perform the anthem.
• Please check to make sure you have received the number of extra tickets you ordered.
• If there is a problem with the number of tickets you receive, please send us an email ASAP. Remember: band members’ tickets will not be handed out.

PNC Protocols

• Please visit the PNC Park website. Take special note of the section on CASHLESS procedures. PNC Park will not accept any cash at all: not for concessions, souvenirs, etc. If your child would like to buy snacks/drinks/souvenirs at the ballpark, they will need to use a pre-paid card. There are reverse ATMs at the ballpark but we are not sure how convenient and/or timely those stations will be to access from our seats. Consider purchasing a prepaid card to send with your child for concessions and souvenirs.
• Also, check out the bag policies for your information.
• https://www.mlb.com/pirates/ballpark/information/gameday

A few other details

• Students will receive their blue band t-shirts either at Tuesday’s practice or on Wednesday before we leave for Pittsburgh.
• Students will wear the Summer Uniform: black Dinkles shoes, black crew socks, black shorts (see Monongalia County Schools dress code for appropriate shorts length), and blue band t-shirt. Band commanders, majorettes, and silks should wear the Summer uniform as decided by their director.
• Chaperones should arrive to MMS band room at 1:30 on Wednesday. Thank you for volunteering!
• Don’t forget that students need to bring a packed lunch with them on the bus. When we arrive at our parking places, the kids will eat their food and then get ready to go to the check-in area. It will be quite a while before they get into the stadium and are able to get concessions, so please don’t forget the packed lunch. No sugar drinks, please.
• We will use the Remind app to communicate our arrival time back at MMS after the game. If you have not signed up for our Remind, text @mmsbandb to 81010.
• Students who are not riding the bus home will need to sign out with Mr. Shaffer.

On Wednesday, August 3, 2022 we have been asked to perform the National Anthem at the Pirates game at PNC Park.  This is a great opportunity for our kids.

There are some seats available on the buses for parents/guardians. We need a few adult chaperones to help us. Please send an email to mailto:mmsmarchingband@gmail.com to volunteer.

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

• Practice 9:30 a.m. -11:00 a.m. at Mountaineer Middle School
• Bring instrument and flip folder

Wednesday, August 3, 2022:

• 1:30pm Meet in the Band Room
• 2:30pm We will load the bus.
• Please bring a packed lunch/snack.
• 4:30pm Arrive at PNC, eat lunch/snack and prepare for the performance.
• 5:00pm Check in.  We will enter by the outfield tunnel.
• 5:30pm Meet at Mazeroski Gate
• 7:00pm Perform
• After we perform, we will return to the bus and put equipment away.  We will then, using our ticket, enter the ballpark to watch the game. We have an allotment of 200 tickets.  Adult chaperones will need to accompany students as they return to the game. At the end of the game, we will return to the bus and travel back to Mountaineer Middle School.

• The cost for each student is $20.00
• The cost for each parent is $20.00
• Ticket forms were sent home with students

Student Rehearsal and Performance Schedule

Tuesday, August 2, 2022 9:30 am – 11:00 am

• Practice for PNC with Westwood at Mountaineer Middle School.  YOU WILL NEED YOUR FLIP FOLDER.

Wednesday, August 3, 2022

• Band shirt, black shorts, black socks and black band shoes. Majorettes and Flags wear assigned outfits from your individual instructors.
• 1:00pm Mr. Shaffer will be at MMS for any problems that may arise.
• 1:30pm Meet in the band room to receive instructions.
• 1:45pm Drums in the Band room to pack and load.
• 2:30pm Everyone in the band room for final instructions.
• Check to be sure you have:
  • INSTRUMENT AND FLIP FOLDER
  • SUMMER UNIFORM
  • Bring your own LUNCH/SNACK; WATERS WILL BE AVAILABLE
• 2:45 LOAD BUSES
  • Bus 1: 8th graders/teachers/chaperones
  • Bus 2: 7th graders/teachers/chaperones
• 5:30 pm Meet at Mazeroski Gate. Arrival time is dependent on road/traffic conditions.
• 7:00 pm Perform the National Anthem!
  • Directly after, we will return to the bus, put horns and equipment away and go back to the stadium for the game.
• At this point you will need to use your ticket to enter the park. Make sure you get one from an adult.
• We will go to our assigned seats. We have a 200 seat block so parents will be seated nearby.
• Students MUST stay in seats. Any student going for food/drink/bathroom must be accompanied by an adult.
• After the 7th inning stretch we will return to our buses for the trip home.
• Students who are not riding the bus home MUST be signed out.
• All students who are signing out need to arrange for a “buddy” to unload their instrument at MMS.
• 11:00 pm ESTIMATED arrival time back at Mountaineer Middle School. This arrival time depends on Pittsburgh traffic.