Every year, the Aiken County School District closes its doors in early spring during Masters Week.
Of course, that's by design, given the genial chaos of the Masters that hits the entire region. A lot of Aiken teachers are enjoying the break, but others are bringing in extra income.
They are working during the tournament - driving cars and assisting with logistics by companies that are focusing on the needs of thousands of visitors this week.
A number of South Aiken High School staff members are doing just that. So is Jason Holt, a former South Aiken assistant principal and now the Jackson Middle School principal. He has worked as a driver and host for the past four years. At the invitation of the company PrimeSports, Holt has taken an office role, helping with some of the coordination for all the people who serve directly with visitors.
"I get to show how nice the area is," Holt said. "The most interesting part for me is that people come from all over the world. There are always a lot of people from Australia. "Those from other countries may not speak native English, so it's just a smile and being helpful."
South Aiken staffer Shannon Mihoulides started working at the Masters five years ago.
Her husband, David, said with a smile that she dragged him over there two years later - "not that I was kicking and screaming about it. It's a great opportunity to make a little money," he said. "With a lot of people from South Aiken, there's a lot of camaraderie. We get to hang out, grabbing dinner together."
Travis Morehead, a business teacher, picks up people at the airport, takes them to the golf course, shops and restaurants during the week. Like Holt, he enjoys meeting fans from around the world, such as Switzerland and Brazil - in addition to other people from places closer to home, such as a Detroit car dealer.
The best, Morehead said, "was a hog hunter who lived at a plantation in Estill [South Carolina] for a couple of years."
Two guidance office staffers, Susan Minolfo and Jessica Davenport, are in Augusta, too. It's the first time for Minolfo, who talked with Shannon Mihoulides about how much she enjoyed it. Minolfo is driving this week, and so is Davenport now.
Until Tuesday, Davenport worked at Berckmans Place - a massive VIP facility that opened two years ago off Augusta National's 5th hole. A total of about 60 waitresses are serving guests, while Davenport worked "point of sale," helping with orders of food, drinks and merchandise, mostly golf-related products.
Last year, "Condoleezza Rice was there for breakfast every morning," Davenport said. "She was so funny and very sweet."
Guidance counselor Tracie McBride, a driver for several years, brings an intriguing perspective to her work at the Masters.
She grew up a block or two from the course in an era before the tournament had reached overwhelming, worldwide interest. It was possible then to get a $10 day pass, and people would give her their tickets on their way out. Not surprisingly, Augusta National has changed the event dramatically over the years.
"When I was 22, they bought all the houses," McBride said. "My parents were the first, and then they rented it out for three years. I remember going back to the house before they tore it down. Now it's a parking lot."
Rob Novit is the Aiken Standard's education reporter.