AS ITS members move on to middle school, the fifth-grade class at Clemens Crossing Elementary School has left behind a beautiful legacy - stained-glass windows designed by the pupils themselves. Seven stained-glass panels now frame the school's front doors.

Stained-glass artist Donna Darcy worked with the children as an artist-in-residence on the project. Darcy is the owner of the Glass Key, a stained-glass supply store and studio in Jessup.

Funded in part by a grant from the Howard County Arts Council, the project cost more than $7,500. Moira Monk, a parent and member of the school's PTA, helped write the grant and coordinated fund-raising efforts to finance the project.

"I've been wanting to do this since I came to the county four years ago," said Ben Schmitt, a Clemens Crossing art teacher. "This project couldn't have gotten launched without her," he said of Monk.

The children began work on the project in October. "We went through a basic history of stained glass, going all the way back to the Egyptians," Schmitt said. "The kids learned how glass is made and studied the designs of Tiffany and Frank Lloyd Wright."

On paper, each child designed a panel 6 inches by 5 inches for the windows. Darcy took the designs to her studio, cut the glass and placed the pieces in lead channels. Because lead residue is hazardous, the pupils were not directly involved in the construction of the windows, Darcy said.

"The kids on this project were the artists," Darcy said. "I was just the craftsman. I was the one who built their designs."

The children did get hands-on experience with stained glass by creating mosaic lids for trinket boxes that they were able to take home.

"They were actually breaking the glass and using mosaic clippers," Schmitt said.

The young artists had a choice of eight colors of glass to use in their designs. Each child's name is engraved on his or her panel. Schmitt describes the finished product as a patchwork quilt made of stained glass. Schmitt designed the center panel, which reads, "CCES, Where Artists Grow."

"I think the kids really surprised everybody, even themselves," Darcy said. "I was hesitant in the beginning, but really pleased with how it turned out."

Schmitt said, "The two greatest things about the whole process is that the kids were able to see all the steps, from the idea to the construction to the installation. They got to see everything come to fruition. But the greatest thing is the way the light comes in during the day. The kids can see the glass illuminated every time they walk by the front hall."

Swansfield writers

Pupils from Swansfield Elementary School recently won awards in two writing contests. Many of these children also participated in the Young Writers' Institute, developed by Gifted and Talented Program resource teachers from five elementary schools.

The Young Writers' Institute gives children in grades three through five an opportunity to develop ideas, refine their skills and learn from experienced writers. In February, these budding authors attended a conference held at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.

Junior Editions in The Mall in Columbia sponsored a poetry contest in April. Winners were announced last month. The winning pupils received an award certificate and a gift certificate from the bookstore.

Swansfield pupils Isabel Enerson finished first in the fifth-grade division of the poetry contest; Leanne Gradijan was second. In the third-grade division, Katie Ziebarth finished first, while Emma Boone won the second-grade division.

The Washington Times sponsored an essay contest in conjunction with its 20-year anniversary. Students were asked to write essays on "values," "emulation," "what America means to me," or "how 9-11 has changed our world."

Anthony Basile was awarded honorable mention and a $50 gift certificate in the contest. Karen Powdrill finished in third place and won a $250 savings bond. Sarah Boone took second place, winning a $500 savings bond. Graham Spicer, who finished first and won a $1,000 savings bond, was honored along with other first-place winners at a banquet held at the Washington Hilton on May 21.

Third Thursdays

The central library is offering entertainment on the third Thursday of each month. Library patrons are invited to come at 7 p.m. tomorrow to hear Dr. Kalpana Patankar perform classical Indian music on the sitar.

"Third Thursdays at the Howard County Library is a perfect way to enjoy a cup of coffee and a muffin from the Daily Grind while you listen to a musical performance," said Elaine Lawrence, volunteer coordinator for the library system. "It's a family-oriented program, so bring the kids."

On July 18, the Baltimore Klezmer Orchestra will play Jewish music, from traditional Klezmer to Yiddish theater songs, and modern Israeli rauch style to Sephardic and Ladino music.

All performances begin at 7 p.m.

Information: 410-313-7881.