60 for 60 Inspiration: Oakleigh Grammar, Australia
To celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Round Square, Oakleigh Grammar in Australia embraced the opportunity to create a collaborative tile mural centred on the theme ‘Shared Environment’, an initiative led by our Academic Leader – Arts & Design, Helena Scarlata. The mural invited every member of the Oakleigh Grammar community to explore and celebrate the idea that we are all connected through the spaces we share, the relationships we build, and the values we uphold. Through this collective artwork, students and staff reflected on how their individual identities, cultures, experiences, and aspirations contribute to a community where everyone belongs.
For the school, the mural became a celebration of their shared journey and the values that unite them, demonstrating that while each tile represents a unique personal story, together they create a powerful expression of collaboration, belonging, and collective identity. Every student and staff member was invited to paint a small white ceramic tile, expressing a unique part of their identity, story, or aspirations. Individually, each tile represents a personal voice; together, they form a vibrant collective artwork that now holds a prominent place within the school, serving as a daily reminder of the strength found in diversity, creativity, belonging, and our shared environment.
In the school’s words, the mural reflects the Round Square IDEALS. It celebrates Internationalism through the rich cultural diversity of its community; Democracy by ensuring every individual had an equal opportunity to contribute; Environmentalism by exploring our shared responsibility to care for the environments and communities we inhabit while creating a lasting collaborative artwork; Adventure by encouraging creative risk-taking and self-expression; Leadership by empowering students and staff to shape a collective legacy; and Service by contributing to something greater than oneself for the benefit of the entire school community.
From this larger mural, the school selected 60 tiles to commemorate Round Square’s 60-year milestone and Oakleigh Grammar’s own journey as a Round Square school. Among these is a tile created by Oakleigh Grammar’s Principal, Mark Robertson, whose contribution symbolises both a commitment to the Round Square philosophy and the growth of the school’s multicultural community. According to the school, it honours a school that proudly embraces its Hellenic heritage while continuing to foster an inclusive, reflective, and globally minded educational environment.
These 60 commemorative tiles symbolise the power of collective identity, demonstrating that while every person brings their own perspective, experiences, and creativity, it is through coming together that something truly meaningful is created. As part of the larger mural, they stand as a lasting testament to individual expression, belonging, inclusion, collaboration, and the shared values that define both Oakleigh Grammar and the global Round Square community. For the school, they also serve as a reminder that our shared environment is enriched through the contributions of every individual and that together, we create a stronger, more compassionate, and globally connected community.
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