Schoolchildren in Seattle, Washington, were out of luck in the event that they hoped to participate within the second-ever Seahawks Super Bowl championship parade on Wednesday, February 11 — apparently, algebra is more necessary.
Seattle Public Schools announced on Tuesday, February 10, that the district would remain open on the day of the parade and that skipping school to attend the city-wide celebration wouldn’t count as an excused absence.
“Seattle is buzzing with excitement as we have a good time the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl victory!” SPS chief operations officer Fred Podesta wrote in a letter to Seattle families. “Moments like this bring our city together, spark pride across generations, and remind us of the facility of shared experiences in our community.”
He continued, “As town plans celebrations, including a victory parade planned for Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 10 a.m., we wish families to know that Seattle Public Schools will remain open with the conventional early-release Wednesday schedule.”
Despite the early release, which got here 75 minutes before normal dismissal in Seattle, it won’t be enough to get students to the parade. The Seahawks parade kicked off at 11 a.m. local time, with schools letting out between 1:10 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Podesta explained that keeping schools open is important, not only for education but for providing essential services to families who may not otherwise receive them.
“Keeping schools open is a crucial a part of maintaining stability, safety, and continuity for our students,” he wrote. “For a lot of families, schools provide not only learning, but in addition meals, transportation, specialized services, and trusted routines. Remaining open allows us to support students’ academic progress while ensuring essential services proceed for individuals who depend on them.”
The Seahawks defeated the Latest England Patriots, 29-13, on Sunday, February 8, to win Super Bowl LX. The varsity district’s refusal to shut on Wednesday didn’t appear to hamper parade attendance. The festivities began at 10 a.m. with a ceremony on the Seahawks’ home stadium of Lumen Field, where the team says about 50,000 tickets were distributed beforehand.
Seattle officials told local news station King5 that it expected between 750,000 and 1 million people to attend the parade.
“This yr’s Seahawks team brought all of Seattle along with the strongest, loudest, and most united spirit I’ve ever seen,” Seattle Mayor Katie B. Wilson said in a press release on Monday, February 9 to announce the parade. “And [Sunday], they delivered in historic fashion, beating the Patriots and bringing a second Lombardi Trophy home to Seattle. Now it’s time to have a good time. I’m looking forward to the parade this week, and I encourage everyone to come back out and join the celebration — responsibly, together, and with pride.”
The Seahawks’ win got here one yr after the Philadelphia Eagles won Super Bowl LIX over the Kansas City Chiefs. When it got here time for the Eagles’ parade, Philadelphia closed its public schools.
“We stay up for joyfully celebrating the Eagles’ victory as a community, and we hope that you just accomplish that safely and responsibly with family and friends,” the School District of Philadelphia wrote in a letter to families on the time. “We also hope you benefit from the long weekend and we stay up for seeing our students and staff back at college on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.”