Students and parents interested in the program can contact the Middle College office.

Middle College, located at College of San Mateo, includes 60 students who take a combination of high school and college classes. These classes are intended to help the student meet high school graduation requirements and college general education requirements.

The students are potential juniors and seniors who prefer not to attend a traditional high school campus. Students demonstrate the potential maturity to cope with the relative freedom of the college environment.

Students are recommended for admission by parents, teachers, guidance counselors and administrators. Other application procedures include student testing for reading and writing, an informational meeting with parents/guardians, and interviews with students parents/guardians.

For more information contact Principal Greg Quigley at 574-6101 or middlecollege@smuhsd.org or visit www.collegeofsanmateo.edu/middlecollege.

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San Mateo County Retired Teachers Association, Division 22 of CalRTA, recently announced a grant program to aid working teachers in San Mateo County according to Judy Evans, president of the local group.

In the past, SMCRTA awarded $2,000 scholarships to graduates planning on becoming educators at each of the county’s three community colleges. Also, in fulfilling its commitment of service to the county, members donated over half a million dollars worth of community service hours last year.

Evans said that in view of the current cutbacks in education statewide and the devastating impact on local classrooms, her board of directors decided to award grants up to $600 to applicants to use to enrich their programs. The county has 17 public school districts and it was decided to split the county with the northern communities benefiting this coming school year, and the southern ones in 2010-11. The following districts are eligible: Brisbane, San Bruno Park, Bayshore, Cabrillo, Jefferson Elementary, Jefferson High School, Pacifica, LaHonda/Pescadeo, South San Francisco and Millbrae.

Grants will be awarded for enrichment programs in the arts, including but not limited to art, music, drama, language arts and vocational art. Teachers may consider guest presenters and programs and field trips. Evans hopes to announce the winners prior to the winter holidays. Grant applications will be distributed to individual schools by mid-September.

CalRTA hopes that other retirees might consider leaving a bequest of some portion of their estates to such grant programs. Retired teachers know all too well what a difference a few dollars can make in the education of California’s children.

For more information contact Judy Evans at 341-0563 or Bob Warfield at 344-4791.

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Join the Skyline Theatre Club for a special midnight screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Richard O’Brien’s screamingly funny, sinfully twisted salute to horror, sci-fi, B-movies and rock music. And there’s even more to make you shiver with anticipation, a wicked live cast — an all-singing, all-dancing, Transylvanian extravaganza. Show is directed by Alan Ceccarelli and Fred Fontellar. Proceeds fund efforts to expand performing arts. Skyline College Theater (Building 1), Performances: will be held 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16 and midnight Oct. 17. Tickets at the door: $10 (Prop Bags:$5).

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Tri-School Productions’ students from Serra, Mercy and Notre Dame high schools are gearing up for the fall production of “Macbeth.” The Shakespearean tragedy is filled with mystery and intrigue, as Macbeth schemes to steal the throne from King Duncan.

The tragedy stars Lucas Gust (Serra ’11) as Macbeth, Hannah Ruwe (NDB ’10) as Lady Macbeth, Peter Morrow (Serra ’12) as Banquo and Owen McGinnis (Serra ’12) as Macduff. The Weird Sisters will be played by Jade Garcia (NDB ’12), Logan Carter (Mercy ’10) and Jenise Spiteri (Mercy ’12).

Performances will be 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23, Oct. 24, Oct. 30 and Oct. 31 at the Gellert Auditorium on the Junípero Serra High School campus, 451 W. 20th Ave. in San Mateo. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for students and seniors.

Class notes is a weekly column dedicated to school news. It is compiled by education reporter Heather Murtagh. You can contact her at (650) 344-5200, ext. 105 or at heather@smdailyjournal.com.