End of the year
End of year award certificates or letters, one for each student in your class.
A good end of year letter to a student names one moment from the year that belongs to them, says how they grew, and sends them off to the next grade with a wish. Add a few quick notes about each student, and we turn them into an award certificate with its own title, a letter in your voice, or both, ready for you to review, change and print before the last day.
A class of 24, award certificates: $72 ($3 each)
By Scott Mackley, founder of learnerborn · Updated
What to write in an end of year letter to a student
One true moment, how they grew, and a wish for next year. That's enough for a letter they'll keep.
- Where they started in the fall, and where they are now.
- One moment from the year that was theirs.
- What it showed you about them.
- A wish for the next grade, or the next school.
- Nothing that ranks them against classmates. Every student gets a letter that is theirs.
Free template
End of year letter to students template
Copy it and fill in the brackets for each student. It works from preschool through high school.
Want a different one for each person, without filling in blanks? That's what learnerborn does: you add a few notes about each person, and each one is written for you to review and print.
Letter template
Dear [first name], What a year. In the fall, you [where they started]. Now you [how they've grown]. One moment I'll always remember is [a moment from this year that was theirs]. It showed me [what it says about them]. I can't wait to hear about everything you do in [next grade or school]. I'm so proud to have been your teacher. [Your name]
Certificate template
The [their moment or strength in a few words] Award Presented to [first name], [class name] For [the moment or habit, in one sentence], and for [how they grew this year]. [Your name], [school year]
Three real examples
From a few notes to a certificate or a letter they'll keep.
Notes for three students, Lily in kindergarten, Amira in fifth grade and Isabella in eighth grade, and what came back. Shown exactly as written. The names are made up.
Letter
CertificateFor Lily, from Mrs. Lopez
What Mrs. Lopez said
“Lily learned to write her whole name in September and now writes little notes to everyone in class.”
The certificate
The Kindest Writer Award
You learned to write your whole name in September! Now you write little notes to everyone in our class. Your notes make people smile and feel special. You use your writing to spread kindness, and that is such a beautiful thing to do. Our classroom is happier because of you, Lily. Keep writing and keep sharing your kind heart with the world!
The letter that came back
Dear Lily,
You are graduating from kindergarten, and I am so proud of you!
Do you remember learning to write your whole name in September? Now you write little notes to everyone in our class. I love finding your notes. You have something kind to say to everyone, and that makes our classroom such a happy place.
Writing your name was just the beginning, Lily. Now you are a writer! You know how to share your ideas on paper, and you use that skill to make people feel special. That is something really wonderful.
I cannot wait to see all the amazing things you will do in first grade. Keep writing those notes, Lily. The world needs more kindness like yours!
Mrs. Lopez
Letter
CertificateFor Amira, from Mrs. Patel
What Mrs. Patel said
“Amira read thirty two chapter books this year and kept a reading journal for every one. She started our classroom book swap shelf in January.”
The certificate
The Thirty-Two Books Award
Congratulations on an unforgettable year in fifth grade. You read thirty-two chapter books and kept a reading journal for every single one, filling the pages with your thoughts and discoveries. In January, you started our classroom book swap shelf. You brought our class together through books, and you showed us what it looks like to be curious, thoughtful, and generous. Fifth grade was better because you were in it.
The letter that came back
Dear Amira,
Thirty-two chapter books this year. Thirty-two reading journals filled with your thoughts, your questions, your favorite parts. That is incredible, and it tells me everything about the kind of learner you are.
What I loved even more was watching you share that love of reading with everyone else. When you started our classroom book swap shelf in January, you created something that brought our whole class together. Your curiosity, your kindness, and the way you dive into everything you care about have made Room 14 a better place. I cannot wait to see all the amazing things you will do in middle school.
Mrs. Patel
Letter
CertificateFor Isabella, from Mr. Okafor
What Mr. Okafor said
“Isabella ran for student council and organized the canned food drive that collected over 800 cans.”
The certificate
The Real Leadership Award
Congratulations on a year that showed everyone what it means to lead with heart. Running for student council was just the beginning. You organized the canned food drive, bringing people together around something that mattered and following through. Over 800 cans collected because you cared enough to try. You made a real difference in this community, and you did it with the kind of leadership that inspires everyone around you. High school is lucky to have you coming.
The letter that came back
Dear Isabella,
Watching you step up this year has been one of the highlights of my time as a teacher. Running for student council takes real courage, and you did it.
What you did with the canned food drive showed everyone what leadership actually looks like. You took an idea and turned it into something real, organizing the whole thing. Over 800 cans. That number represents hours of planning, rallying people together, and following through. You made a difference in this community, and you did it because you cared enough to try.
I have so much respect for the person you are becoming. You are heading to high school ready to lead, ready to take on hard things, and ready to make the places you go better for being there. I cannot wait to see what you do next.
Mr. Okafor
Award title ideas
Awards that celebrate each person's own strengths.
Each student gets their own title, written from your notes. A few come from the examples on this page; the rest are ideas in the same spirit. None of them rank one student against another.
- The Kindest Writer Award
- The Thirty-Two Books Award
- The Real Leadership Award
- The Helping Hands Award
- The Clean Up Song Champion Award
- The Found-Your-Voice Award
- The Book Club Starter Award
- The Brave Mathematician Award
- The First-to-Be-a-Friend Award
- The Spoke-from-the-Heart Award
- The Sees-a-Need-and-Fills-It Award
- The Classroom Greeter Award
How it works
About a minute per person, start to finish.
We use AI to draft each certificate or letter from only the notes you give us. Nothing is final until you approve it.
- 1
Pick the occasion and a design
Thanksgiving, the holidays, the end of the season, a thank you or just because. Choose a design for your certificates, your letters or both, and your group's colors.
- 2
Type or say a few notes about each person
A moment you noticed, how they grew, what you'll remember. Messy is fine, and the more you say, the fuller and more personal each one will be.
- 3
Review, change anything, print
Review each one, change anything you like and approve it. Then download print ready PDFs and print at home.
Kindergarten and preschool graduation, moving up, and moving away
Questions
Last names are optional, stay on your device and are never saved. Everything is deleted 30 days after your order is finished, or 60 days after an order is started and never finished.
Who writes the certificates and letters?
You do, with help. We use AI to draft each certificate or letter from only the notes you give us. Each one is about that one person, and each letter is in your voice. You review each one and change anything you like before you download, and nothing is final until you approve it.
Do the certificates or letters compare kids with each other?
No. Each certificate or letter is about one person and never compares them with anyone else. Award titles celebrate that person's own strengths and growth.
How long does it take?
About a minute per person once your names are in, start to finish, including the time you spend talking or typing. Most of that minute is you saying what you noticed. The writing, the design and the layout are done for you.
What do I get?
Print ready PDFs on US Letter pages: a file of certificates, a file of letters, or both, depending on what you chose. Print them at home or at any print shop. You can also email each one to the family straight from the app.
How much does it cost?
It depends on what you make and how many people are in your group. A certificate is $3 to $5 per person, a letter $6 to $12, and both together $8 to $15. The bigger the group, the lower the price per person, and you see the total before you pay. See all prices.
Send every student off with a letter that is truly theirs.
Start with first names and a few notes. You'll have an award certificate, a letter or both for each student, ready for the last day.
Certificates from $3, letters from $6 each for groups of 16 or more.