NEWTOWN SQUARE–A fifth-grade teacher at St. Anastasia's School got a surprise of a lifetime when her boyfriend of almost five years proposed to her outside the school Friday afternoon.

A few of the St. Annies fifth graders helped Jeff Elko, of Media, propose to his girlfriend and their teacher, Nicole Nolan, of Havertown, just before lunch in the school's courtyard.

Elko had the students hold up a sign that read, "Miss Nolan, Will You Marry Jeff?"

Elko said he was nervous in the days leading up to the proposal but all of the teachers and staff at St. Annies were so helpful in the preparations.

"I’m just so glad the secret is finally over," Elko said. "She said she couldn’t be surprised but she definitely was."

Nolan said she was completely surprised and had no clue what was happening as she rounded the corner with her students to see a giant proposal sign in front of her.

She said she first thought the sign was a project that another teacher was working on, until she got closer to read it.

"What is going on," Nolan said right before Elko got down on one knee.

Nolan of course said yes, although she said she can’t remember if the word actually came out of her mouth.

"We are getting married," Nolan exclaimed.

Family, friends and the St. Annies community congratulated the happy couple following the proposal.