The bell on September 1 rang for the first time for 160 first graders of the Theoretical High School “Ion Creanga”. Dressed nicely and with flowers in their hands, the students said they expected this moment their whole life, Info-Prim Neo reports. “Now that you enter our family, you should thank those who directed you to this high school and make effort to strengthen the prestige of “Ion Creanga”. Only by hard work, love for the books, respect for the teachers and wish to know the unknown, will we be able to grow new generations and meet teachers’ and parents expectations,” the school’s head Valentin Guzgan said at school year opening ceremony. The first graders and their parents were overcome with emotion. “I waited the whole summer for the school year to open. I’m agitated because I do not know my classmates yet. But I’m glad that I was the one who rang the first bell this year and started the new school year,” said first grader Mihaela Ungureanu. Attending the event, Mayor General of Chisinau Dorin Chirtoaca wished the students of the Theoretical High School “Ion Creanga” peace and harmony in their relations with the teachers. “It is the first school day and a new start. The students come to classes to gain new knowledge. We have nine months to strengthen the values of our education system. The new school year comes with many reforms aimed at modernizing the education process so that the school, which is the temple of knowledge, enjoys autonomy and power to take decisions,” said Dorin Chirtoaca. The mayor gave a thermopane window to the high school as a present. “It is a gift on the day of the school, which marks 20 years today. It is a symbol because this high school managed to win a project financed with European funds, together with another four Chisinau high schools,” he said. “Ion Creanga” is among the winners of the Increasing Energy Efficiency of Chisinau and Sevastopol Municipalities Based on Existing Positive Experience Project that is financially supported by the European Commission and the Cooperation in Urban Development and Dialogue Program. Within this project, all the windows of the high school were replaced. The Theoretical High School “Ion Creanga” celebrates 20 years of the foundation on September 1. According to the Ministry of Education, about 380,000 students began the new school year today. Several hundreds of students went to new schools as their local schools were closed.