FROM performances in piano recitals to scary real-life events, kids today are under a lot of stress. That's why Christi Bello, school counselor at Northfield Elementary School, put together a program to help her pupils cope with the forces that buffet their lives.

Last week, about 50 pupils participated in a two-hour program in the school's cafeteria.

First, they listened to Sgt. David Francis of Howard County Police Department, who spoke about stranger safety and the role of a police officer.

After a question-and-answer session with Francis, pupils rotated among four stations, each featuring a different stress-reduction method, Bello said.

In the first station, they talked about their emotions. In the second, they relieved tension through exercise with jump ropes, hoppity balls and mini-trampolines. In the third, they manipulated clay to create objects that cause stress.

"One person made a piece of paper and said it was a [school] test," Bello said. Another molded a piano to express tension about an approaching recital.

In the fourth station, pupils put pencil to paper to draw or write about their worries.

After the stations, pupils completed a craft project, then had a snack.

"They all loved it," Bello said. "I gave them evaluations at the end and I'm getting real good feedback."

Pupils attended the session with their buddies from the school's SPICE - Students Promoting Individual Career Enhancement - program.

SPICE, which started about five years ago, matches first-, second- and third-graders with older children, mostly fifth-graders, who help their younger peers through academic, social or emotional rough patches.

To qualify for the program, the older kids have to create a resume. They are interviewed by Bello and, if they are hired, she trains them. Pupils in the program meet for two 20-minute sessions a week, Bello said.

"I walk a fine line because we're such an academic school that it's hard to get them out of their classrooms. They have to make up their work," Bello said.

She organized the stress-reduction program several years ago with eight stations, she said. It went so well that she always meant to repeat it, but as a part-time counselor could never find time. Even after the success of last week's program, she is not sure how often she will do it.

Though last week's activity was specifically for those in the SPICE program, Bello said any child could benefit from it. "Stress affects all of us," she said.

Wrap star

A telescope kept Ellicott City resident Jodi Ceglia out of the winner's circle, but she still won $500 and a trip to New York in the Scotch Brand America's Most Gifted Wrapper Contest.

Ceglia was one of four finalists in the contest, which was held Nov. 21-23 in New York City. All the gift-wrapping contestants were given telescopes and a bag of gift-wrapping supplies.

"Have you ever wrapped a telescope?" Ceglia said in a phone interview. "It was not that easy."

As one of eight finalists, Ceglia went to New York at the expense of 3M, the company that makes Scotch Tape. The company paid her train fare, hotel bill for three nights, and food and transportation throughout the weekend.

In the first round, contestants were given a box, a pair of boxing gloves and wrapping supplies. Ceglia was one of four finalists to advance to the second round, when the telescope tripped her. For the final round, contestants were asked to wrap an indoor children's gymnasium, she said.

Though she didn't win, Ceglia said the experience was positive.

"It was great," she said. "They treated us really well. They were extremely professional, and they made it really fun."

Talking about drugs

A talk about substance abuse will be held at Mount Hebron High School from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. The talk, part of Howard County Drug Free's "Issues in Parenting" speaker series, is designed for parents, but students are welcome.

Mark Donovan of Integrative Counseling in Columbia will speak on treatment options. Also in attendance will be Veronica Bohn, Mount Hebron principal, and Karen Slack, school resource officer for Howard County Police Department.

Information: Laura Smit, the HC DrugFree coordinator, at 410-799-4879 or hcdrugfree@ya hoo.com.

Honor student

Melissa Taylor of Ellicott City recently was inducted into a national social sciences honor society at Salisbury University. The society, Pi Gamma Mu, promotes community service and is for students with a cumulative average of B or better.

Taylor, a junior, is majoring in Spanish and psychology, and plays varsity field hockey.