Last semester was all about guts and glory on the gridiron for Richmond County Raiders starting defensive linemen Cleyce Almond, as his team made a late season push to capture the North Carolina 4-AA State Championship in his senior season.

This semester, he’s shifting his focus to college, as he eyes Winstom Salem State.

“Since football season’s over, it’s really time for me to hit the books harder,” Almond said Monday. “I’ve got to be more into the books, but I’ve got more time to study since we don’t have to practice, so I should be all right.”

Student athletes aren’t the only students who have an adjustment to make as they return to school after the holiday break, but Athletic Director Hal Shuler explained that there other commitments tend to make them “a cut above.”

“It’s all back to the basics right now for them,” Shuler said. “They have to be student athletes all the time, they don’t really have time away from the books. The only difference is that now football season is out. We say that it makes them ‘a cut above,’ because of everything they’ve got to do.”

He pointed out that many football players are now playing basketball and wrestling, and will be going out for baseball and soccer, so many of them won’t see that big a difference.

Senior Shaquana Ingram explained that the short time she has left at Richmond Senior High makes it easier to adjust back to school.

“I miss all that sleep I was getting all ready,” she said. “But I’ve only got five months and I graduate, so that makes it easier.”

She said she’ll be studying for midterms and keeping in contact with colleges, including North Carolina A&T, over the next couple of weeks.

“It was not a safe holiday for me,” Junior Justin Patrick said, his right hand covered in gauze from a burn he sustained over the break. “Focus isn’t really a problem, it’s just writing it.”

The right-hander said that his teachers are going to work with him so he can keep up with his work despite the injury.

Sophomore C.J. Locklear said that he ready to start the new semester, and has a resolution for 2009.

“I got bored at home because I didn’t really get to talk to my friends - I actually missed school for once,” he said. “I want to do better this semester. I’ve been doing good with my classes and everything, but I just think I can do better.”

At the front desk, secretary Kris Wallace has a lot of face-time with students and faculty, and she shared the difference she sees in students just after the break.

“It’s an exciting time of the year,” RSHS Principal Cory Satterfield said. “We’re coming back from the Christmas break, and we have Senior Board Night on Jan. 8th, for senior English students, and then we have exams starting Jan. 16, so it’s back to work.”

Assistant Principal Dennis Quick commented on the adjustment to being back at school for students and faculty.

“After the first couple of hours, it’s like they never missed a beat,” he said. “Having all that time to sleep late they come in kind of catatonic, but after the first couple of hours it’s fine.”

U.S. History teacher Jennifer Byrd said that teachers also face a lot of the same challenges as students returning from the break.

“I guess it’s just like the students, we’re trying to get back into the routine, and just like the students, we’re glad to see our colleagues and our students again,” she said.

As for dealing with students fresh off of a two-week break, “Just trying to keep them awake the first couple of days is the challenge,” Byrd said.

“You just start off with, ‘Don’t worry, this will be easy,’” math teacher Jennifer May said.

After that, it’s pretty much business-as-usual, she explained.

Students of her senior math class shared their thoughts about being back from the holidays.

“I asked for the homework early today,” Senior Jessica Ellerbe said. “I’m ready to get back to work.”

“You’ve got to be prepared and have your mind ready for school,” Senior Brianda Everett said. “That’s what I did last night - I couldn’t sleep, so I just kind of got my mind back into school.”