ABOUT 200 parents and parishioners from St. John's Parish Day School sang songs and buried a time capsule to help celebrate the school's new expansion and renovation.

The celebration, which took place Dec. 8, "was a lovely community time," said Anna Puma, head of the school. "We all gathered in the multipurpose building and had songs and a reception," she said.

The $7.8 million addition, which took about a year to complete, includes a new building for kindergarten through grade five, and a complete overhaul of the preschool building, Puma said. A multipurpose room was added that will be used for science, art and music classes. The bathrooms, lighting, climate controls and other features also were updated.

The Ellicott City school, which was founded in 1964, has nearly 300 children. This year, a first-grade program was added. Next year, second-graders will be taught. A new grade will be added each year up to grade five, Puma said.

As part of the ceremony, a time capsule was buried in a cornerstone of the new building, to be opened in 70 years when the church will be 250 years old, Puma said.

Items in the capsule included a pin with the day school's logo, a videotape of the construction process and a note with the school's mission statement, Puma said.

Better baby-sitting

Want to be a better baby sitter? Howard County libraries are holding two-session classes next month for future baby sitters ages 11 to 15. The classes will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 9 and 16 at the Miller branch.

Participants will learn about first aid, helping children go to sleep and other topics from Hope Jackson, a 4-H educator for the Howard County Cooperative Extension.

Registration begins two weeks before the program date. Call 410-313-1950 or register in person at the library.

Holiday blues

For people going through difficult times, the holiday season can bring more pain than joy. That's why the Glen Mar United Methodist Church in Ellicott City is holding a service called "The Longest Night."

The service is for people who feel sad and lonely.

The church's Stephen Ministry put together the service, said the Rev. John Nupp, who recently joined the church.

Church members lead the Stephen Ministry at Glen Mar. They are trained to be "caring listeners" and are paired with individuals who need guidance, Nupp said.

The service is scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday at the church, on Glen Mar Road. Information: 410-465-4995.

Chess champions

Congratulations to local students who took prizes at the chess tournament sponsored by the Black Student Achievement Program (BSAP) and the Council of Elders of the Black Community of Howard County.

Keith Dailey, a third-grader at St. John's Lane Elementary School, took first place among elementary-school contestants; Ian Bembenek, a seventh-grader at Patapsco Middle School, took fourth place among middle-school winners; and Kurt Naiker, a ninth-grader at Hammond High School, placed third among high-schoolers.

The games were held at Long Reach High School on Dec. 7. More than 60 students were registered, but some did not attend because of the snowy weather.