Cincinnati Public Schools give students and teachers the day off following Bengals Super Bowl appearance

Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) announced that students and staff will have a day off after the city’s NFL team, the Bengals, plays in the Super Bowl, ESPN reported. 

In a letter sent to parents on Monday, the school district cited celebrating “what we believe will be our city’s first-ever Super Bowl victory” as the reason for making Feb. 14 a day off.

“We hope that you enjoy roaring the Bengals to a win on Sunday and take this time to take pride in our incredible city and amazing football team,” the district said in its letter, per ESPN.

CPS board member Mike Moroski told the Cincinnati Enquirer earlier on Monday that students and faculty are typically off the day after the big game, but the school year’s calendar didn’t line up with this year’s Super Bowl. 

“I have put in a request to have the day after the Super Bowl off for everyone in the district,” Moroski wrote in a tweet. “I do not make these calls, but I thought it would be a good thing for our community to celebrate this special time.”

The move comes as the Bengals, led by star quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, are set to play the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Super Bowl LVI on Feb. 13, ESPN reported. 

This is the Bengals’ first Super Bowl appearance since 1988, when quarterback Boomer Esiason and rookie running back Elbert L. “Ickey” Woods led Cincinnati to a matchup against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIII. The Bengals lost 20-16 to the 49ers in a valiant effort.