Yarrilee State School students help Tom Rudd propose to teacher Jessica Roth

A teacher, who was taken on a surprise helicopter joy ride by her partner couldn’t believe it when she looked down on her school oval and saw her students spelling out two important words.

Flying high in the skies over Hervey Bay, Jessica Roth had no idea her partner was about to pop the question in the most romantic way.

Ms Roth, a schoolteacher at Yarrilee State School, met Tom Rudd, a butcher at Kawungan Quality Meats, online about a year ago.

“It was very laid-back,” Ms Roth said.

“We just found it so easy to talk to each other.”

In the weeks before her birthday, Ms Roth knew something was brewing.

But when her partner threw a surprise party for her, she assumed that was it.

Little did she know, much more was in store.

A helicopter ride had been cancelled because of bad weather, but on Friday, the second part of Mr Rudd’s plan swung into action.

Not knowing where they were headed, Ms Roth got her first clue when the couple arrived at the airport.

“My mind started running,” she said.

Schoolteacher Jessica Roth with her new fiance Tom Rudd.

The couple then walked into Great Ocean Helicopters where their adventure began.

First the helicopter took the couple for scenic tour of Fraser Island from the sky.

Ms Roth said it was incredible to see the landscape of the island from above.

Then, the helicopter took the couple over their home in Point Vernon and Ms Roth was able to snap some photos.

Already thrilled by the experience, she had no way of being prepared for what was coming next.

The helicopter headed towards Yarrilee State School and Ms Roth noticed there were students in the oval.

“I thought, ‘what are all the kids doing out on the oval?’” she said, unable to think of an event that would explain it.

Then she realised something was being spelt out by the students.

As it turns out, Mr Rudd had spent weeks planning the big moment, both with the helicopter business and with the school.

The students stood in formation to spell out the words “marry me” on the school oval.

Ms Roth was stunned when she realised what her partner had done.

“It was really, really special,” she said.

“Being a teacher is super important to me.

“It made it even more special that my partner, without even being prompted, involved the school and the students.”

The school’s principal, Sharon McMorrow, had kept the secret for months while Mr Rudd planned.

The school even put a drone up to capture images of the moment for the couple to treasure.

After Ms Roth said yes, the helicopter flew over the oval to let those on the ground know the plan had been a success.

Now, the two are excited to be planning their wedding.

Ms Roth said they’d quickly realised when they began dating that they wanted to be together.

“We have very similar ideas about our future and family is a key part of both our lives,” she said.

“I’m so lucky to find someone so perfectly matched to me.

“I couldn’t imagine that this is how the day would turn out.

“He’s definitely a keeper this one.”