In countries of the former Eastern Bloc, the day of Sept. 1 is known as “Knowledge Day” — the first day of the new school year. It’s celebrated with a ceremony called “The First Bell.”
Traditionally, during the ceremony, a boy from the final grade carries a girl from the first grade on his shoulders around the schoolyard as she rings a bell.
The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted education, forcing Ukrainian schools to teach remotely for a large part of the 2020-2021 school year. As of now, school have reopened and are holding their classes in person. If COVID-19 cases rise to a certain level in a region, the schools in that area will shut down, unless the majority of their staff are vaccinated.
