Marching band nabs 2nd at competitionMARS — The Mars High School marching band took second place Oct. 24 at the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Marching Band Association Class AAA Championships at Gateway High School in Monroeville.The band, which played selections by Billy Joel, competed against Fox Chapel, Gateway and Penn-Trafford.Mark Rodgers is the band director.

Mars raises $12,487 to fight cancerMARS — Mars School District students raised $12,487 to benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation through the schools’ annual Hats for Heroes fundraiser Oct. 23.Students at the middle school donated $3,415; the Centennial School, $2,376; the elementary school, $4,150; and the primary center, $2,384. The high school’s Interact Club collected an additional $164.50 to benefit the cause.For the fundraiser, students gave donations in return for wearing a hat in school Oct. 23.The district is a Silver Level Sponsor of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and the district’s logo will be featured on T-shirts for the 2016 event in May at Schenley Park in Pittsburgh.