The Bulldog Crew’s lunchtime meetings feature more than just games and art projects — they are a place where friendship and inclusivity thrive.
The Bulldog Crew was formed in 2016 by the first freshman class at Portola High. The club seeks to develop relationships within the student body and the special education program by organizing events and pairing up club members with a special education student.
“I joined Bulldog Crew my freshman year because it aligned with my own views, and it seemed like a very unique opportunity,” vice president of the Bulldog Crew and junior Alina Samiullah said. “You don’t really get to interact with the kids in the special ed classrooms, and that can sometimes lead to alienation of the students.”
Beginning as an unofficial club with only a few members, the club has blossomed into a weekly highlight for up to 40 students from both general and special education, with activities such as dancing, basketball and weekend reports, where students share their favorite moments from the weekend. These connections are not just limited to the weekly meetings but extend to friendships between students that are reflected on campus.
“I think the socialization piece is amazing to watch,” extensive support needs education specialist Desiree De Santos-Shaffer said. “When you see them around peers and when they see each other around campus and they say hello to each other, I feel like it brings community, which is what we always want.”
The friendships created through the Bulldog Crew not only benefit the special education students but the club members as well. Serving as a positive outlet for students, club members empathize with and understand different modes of communication and learning, ultimately sparking a passion to explore a future career in special education.
“A lot of our students that have come through [the Bulldog Crew] have gone into special education,” Bulldog Crew adviser and special education department chair Melody Resendez said. “We’ve had a few that are pursuing being special ed teachers, occupational therapists or speech and language psychologists. And obviously, our ultimate hope would be for them to maintain some of those friendships.”
Beyond shaping future aspirations, the immediate impact of the Bulldog Crew is found in the small, everyday moments shared between students.
“I’d say what’s most rewarding are the day-to-day activities and interactions you have with the students,” Samiullah said. “Their smiles are very rewarding and when they’re engaged in activities because you see how they might not be having the best day, and then they come [to Bulldog Crew] and all of a sudden they’re smiling. It’s very nice.”
