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Wandell students win state Nature Scavenger Hunt; board celebrates G&T program
Summary
Wandell School students took first in grades 3–5 and placed second statewide (K–8) in the 2026 New Jersey Nature Scavenger Hunt. The superintendent and G&T teacher presented awards, described project requirements, and announced upcoming school events including a March 19 entrepreneurs market.
The Saddle River School District celebrated student achievements Tuesday as Wandell School pupils were recognized for top finishes in the 2026 New Jersey Nature Scavenger Hunt.
The superintendent praised the school’s gifted-and-talented program and asked the board and community to applaud students who took first place in grades three through five and finished second in the state across grades K–8. "They took first place in the state of New Jersey in the 2026 Nature Scavenger Hunt," the superintendent said, adding the students’ work showed "hard work, creativity, and perseverance."
Miss Kleinard, the program’s teacher, described the scavenger-hunt project tasks: students identified nocturnal and diurnal wildlife, documented pollinators, researched species once extirpated from New Jersey, and photographed native trees used for lumber. She detailed that fifth graders coordinated the project by dividing tasks, creating slides and drawings, and completing a bonus edible-flower project for extra credit. "They formed a circle and they put their all their hands in the middle and they said, ‘We did the best we could,’" Miss Kleinard said.
Named students included Jude Malanka, Emily Greenberg, Lucas Greenberg, Fitz Fitzgerald and Alex Aleand among others; first-graders Jake, Austin and Lachlan Pope were singled out as the Wandell Winter Explorers, scoring 96—the highest first-grade score statewide.
The school presented medals and distributed a donated board game (Wingspan) for winners to take home on a rotating basis. Mrs. Hickey and other staff assisted in awards distribution and logistics.
Beyond the contest, the superintendent invited the public to the fifth-grade Young Entrepreneurs Market on March 19 and noted Read Across America activities next week, including a 9:00 a.m. assembly. "Everyone is welcome," she said, urging families to attend the market to see student products.
The presentation also highlighted partnerships and community support: maintenance staff and the municipal snow-removal crew were thanked for winter safety, and the superintendent noted Bergen County Special Services led sensitivity training for students. The district emphasized continued support for the G&T program and plans to showcase student work at upcoming community events.
The board did not take formal action on the program during the meeting; the segment served as a public recognition and community announcement.
