Navy Mom Surprises 5-Year-Old Daughter in School Gym

— -- It was already an exciting day for little 5-year-old Brianna as she and her classmates were gearing up for their big school play Thursday night, but it suddenly turned even more magical with the appearance of an unexpected visitor.

Navy mom Catherine Kelly, 32, shocked her daughter by emerging down the aisle at her school gym in Conover, North Carolina, right after Brianna took her class photo.

"I’ve been planning this since February 1,” Kelly, who has been deployed in Bahrain for six months, told ABC News. “My whole family knew I was coming home except my daughter."

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Brianna’s school, Concordia Christian Day School, was a “huge help” in pulling off the surprise for the unsuspecting little girl, who hadn’t seen her mom since August 1.

“I want to give a big thanks to the school,” said Kelly. “They’ve really been there for her while I’ve been gone.”

The reunion was more than an emotional moment for the elated mom and daughter, however. It was also an educational lesson for all of Brianna’s classmates.

“We wanted our kids to see what it was like for these military men and women to come back after being deployed for so long, to have a better understanding of how it really impacts families,” Principal Bill Unverferhrt explained.

Kelly now has the entire weekend to catch up with her little girl before heading back to Norfolk, Virginia, where she’s stationed, but for the time being, she’s just relishing in every second.

“There’s just so many emotions,” she said of finally getting to see Brianna again. “Excitement, happy, nervous.”

Brianna will continue living with her Aunt Angie and Uncle Sean, Kelly’s sister-in-law and brother, until she’s out of school for the summer.