Traumatized and displaced but determined, kids in Ukraine head back to school

At a small private school in Dnipro, one of just a handful of schools offering in-person classes in the city, a teacher leads new first-graders to the front of the room in a welcoming ceremony. (Claire Harbage/NPR)

The first day of school in Ukraine is a big deal. Known as the Day of Knowledge, there are usually big celebrations – with rehearsed dances, concerts and lots of balloons. Children dress up in traditional Ukrainian vyshyvankas with brightly colored embroidery. Families bring teachers bouquets of flowers – there are usually so many flowers on the first day that the classrooms are bursting with colorful blooms.

This fall, the war with Russia has disrupted – but not destroyed – this beloved tradition in a country that places enormous importance on education.