With Catholic Schools Week starting Sunday, there's a new sign at Most Precious Blood School in Walden announcing it as the North Orange Interparochial School. An open house is set for Jan. 29.

The regional elementary school, led by Sister Margaret Strychalski, principal, was created with the guidance of the Archdiocese of New York and assistance from the spiritual leaders in the Catholic parishes in the northern part of Orange County, including Most Precious Blood, the Holy Name of Mary in Montgomery, Assumption in Maybrook, and Infant Saviour in Pine Bush. Students from each of these parishes already attend the school, so the new name and sign "is a response to a regionalization that has already been occurring," said Strychalski.

"Most Precious Blood School will be strengthened by this new educational model," she said.

Children of all faiths are welcome at the school, which is on Route 208. It is a "middle states" accredited elementary school. Class sizes are small, averaging only 12 students per teacher.

"Smaller class sizes, a dedicated teaching staff and an administration that puts students first create an environment where the academic, moral, physical, social and spiritual needs of students are met," said Strychalski. "One of the important results of this nurturing environment is much higher than average standardized test scores."

"MPB school students have always been encouraged to participate in community service and extracurricular activities, and the school has an excellent athletic program featuring basketball, cheerleading and soccer programs," said Tara Calabrese, who works in the parish rectory and is long familiar with the students and programs. Teams compete in the Orange County Parochial School League.

In addition to the extracurricular and sports programs, there is a before- and after-school care program that helps working parents "by providing a safe and structured environment where children do homework and have fun," Calabrese said.

The open house hours Jan. 29 are 9:30-10:30 a.m., 1:30-2:30 p.m. and 7-8 p.m. All visitors can tour the school, interact with students and teachers and visit the extensive Curriculum Fair, which will be under way featuring projects and class work from each grade.

On each day during Catholic Schools Week, the students will begin the day with prayer. They'll observe the week by conducting a food drive for the Montgomery Food Pantry.

For information, call Yvonne Faraone in the school office at 845-778-3028, or Tara Calabrese in the rectory at 845-778-5719.