Bastrop pep rally energizes community

BASTROP, Texas (KXAN) -  

As the resilient Bastrop County community moves forward, Cedar Creek and Bastrop high schools became the catalyst early Thursday morning during an energizing pep rally and convocation for getting the heartbeat of healing moving.

• Photos: Bastrop moves forward together

Back-to-school time in Bastrop has a special meaning this year as the community emphasizes the positive, shaking off the devastating memories of the wildfire.

And while they have not forgotten the more than 1,700 homes destroyed, two lives lost and tens of thousands of acres burned, they're focus is now all about "moving forward" and growing stronger.

Not even a fresh -- albeit friendly -- rivalry with new, full-fledged Cedar Creek High School could keep Bastrop High School students and teachers apart. Both schools and hundreds of other people from throughout the community came together to share in the moment together early Thursday morning.

Pep squads, cheerleaders, band members and dance crews kept it lively as KXAN News Today hosted the show live from Bastrop -- all in an effort to remind the rest of Central Texas, and the rest of the nation, that Bastrop County has risen stronger than ever.

Cedar Creek High School Band Director Rick Kutcher, teacher Shelle Chamblee and School Board President James Allen talked about what they're doing to prepare as they head into the new school year and what everyone can look forward to in the future from the mostly rural community just 30 miles east of Austin.