When a school invests in new classroom furniture, the goal is never just “new.” It’s better flow, better collaboration, and spaces that support the way students learn today. That’s exactly what we’re seeing at Mater Dei Catholic School in Chula Vista, CA—a valued repeat customer that recently brought in two 20-seat Apex chair and triangle dry erase desk classroom packages from Marco Group to support flexible learning across campus.
And according to Carol Williams, Office Manager & Facilities Admin at Mater Dei Catholic School, the results were immediate:
“I’m happy to share some pictures — the new desks have been a hit on campus! They’ve quickly become a fan favorite…”
A school built around purpose, growth, and opportunity
Mater Dei Catholic is a TK–12 Catholic school community with a mission centered on inspiring and educating students—supporting hearts, minds, and souls. On their campus, students are encouraged to grow academically and holistically, with strong offerings and emphasis that include STEAM learning opportunities and student development.
That commitment to well-rounded learning shows up in the classroom—especially when teachers have furniture that makes it easy to shift between independent work and meaningful collaboration.
Individual desks for focused work (and easy movement)
In one classroom photo, the desks are spaced out as individual student stations—perfect for independent work, testing days, or any lesson where students need their own dedicated space. Because the desks are lightweight enough to reconfigure but sturdy enough for everyday use, teachers can quickly reset the room as needed.
Grouped in twos for partner activities
Another photo shows the desks arranged in groups of two—a simple change that supports peer-to-peer learning without making the room feel crowded. These partner layouts are great for quick turn-and-talk moments, peer editing, and shared problem-solving.
And since the tops are dry erase, students can sketch, solve, outline, and brainstorm right on the work surface—then share their thinking with classmates or the teacher in real time.
Pods of three and four for collaboration
In the third and fourth classrooms, the desks are clustered into pods of three (see post image) and four—an ideal setup for small-group discussion, project work, and collaborative practice. Triangle desks make these pod layouts feel natural, giving each student a “home base” while still facing into the group.
This is where flexible furniture really shines: teachers can match the room layout to the lesson, the subject, and the needs of the students—without being locked into one arrangement all year.
Product spotlight: built for busy classrooms
A few practical features that make this desk-and-chair package classroom-ready:
- Durable dry erase desktop with a thick top and edge banding designed to stand up to daily use
- Adjustable legs and steel construction for long-term performance in active learning spaces
- Apex stack chairs that stack 3–4 high, with strong welded supports and self-leveling glides
Looking ahead: more classrooms want in
The best part of a classroom refresh is when it spreads—because it worked. Carol told us the excitement is already growing beyond the first spaces furnished:
“Now, not only our language building, but a few other mobile classrooms want them as well!”
And we love hearing this:
“Thank you so much for all your help in furnishing these spaces. I’m looking forward to the next few months to hopefully place another order!”
Shoutout to Worthington Direct sales associate Alisa Plummer for partnering with Carol and the Mater Dei team to help bring these classrooms to life.
