Contributed photo Corn Hole boards were scattered throughout the field at Raider Stadium during the Staff Appreciation Picnic at Raider Stadium on Tuesday. Teachers and staff were fed lunch and relaxed to the tunes of Jim Quick and the Coastline Band.

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Contributed photo More than a thousand teachers, faculty and staff members from Richmond County Schools set up camp at Raider Stadium on Tuesday for a special Staff Appreciation Picnic planned by the Richmond County Board of Education. Staff members were served lunch alongside a performance from Jim Quick and the Coastline Band. The picnic was held to recognize all the hard work of Richmond County Schools employees during the 2012-13 school year.

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Contributed photo Teachers and staff from Washington Street Elementary School broke out the oversized Jenga blocks during Tuesday's Staff Appreciation Picnic at Raider Stadium.

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Hundreds of teachers from across Richmond County Schools gathered for a picnic Tuesday at the Richmond Senior High School’s Raider Stadium to enjoy games, live entertainment, food and each other’s company.

According to Richmond County Schools, the Staff Appreciation Picnic was planned by the Richmond County Board of Education. Staff members were served lunch alongside a performance from Jim Quick and the Coastline Band. The picnic was held to recognize all the hard work of Richmond County Schools’ employees during the 2012-13 school year.

Members of the faculty and school staff played cornhole and one group of teachers even got out an over-sized game of Jenga.

“Teachers and staff gathered underneath tents from each school — many of them decorated with banners, palm trees and even a snow cone machine,” said Richmond County Schools Director of Public Information Mallory Brown. “As a special gift from the Board of Education, each staff member received a Richmond County Schools coozie and $25 in ‘Chamber Bucks,’ which can be used at several locations throughout the county.”

According to Brown, 32 retirees were also recognized during the staff picnic for their years of dedication to Richmond County Schools. School principals were given the opportunity to call their retiring teachers forward and present each of them with an engraved clock. Superintendent George E. Norris also recognized former Associate Superintendent Robert Beck, who retired in March.

“Many employees said they enjoyed the chance for everyone to gather at the same place to celebrate all of the different roles in support of Richmond County public education,” said Brown.

— Staff Writer Dawn M. Kurry can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 15, or by email at dkurry@civitasmedia.com.