Oakleigh Grammar has officially unveiled a new whole-school tile mural, bringing together hundreds of individual contributions from students, staff and members of the wider school community to create a lasting celebration of identity, belonging and connection.

The mural was unveiled at a special Whole School Tile Mural Community Celebration Assembly, marking the culmination of a collaborative project led by Mrs Helena Scarlata.

Every member of the Oakleigh Grammar community was invited to create an individual tile, with each design reflecting something personal - from identity, culture and experiences to values, aspirations and a sense of belonging. While every tile is unique, together they form a powerful collective artwork representing the shared story of the Oakleigh Grammar community.

The project was driven by Mrs Scarlata’s vision to create something that would bring the School community together while leaving a lasting legacy within the School environment.

Mrs Scarlata said the mural demonstrated the power of art and creativity to bring people together and create a strong sense of community and connection. 

“We are delighted to celebrate the unveiling of our whole-school tile mural. This is a powerful reminder of how art and creativity can transform individual ideas into a shared expression of community, connection and our ability to come together to create something far greater than ourselves”.

The mural reflects Oakleigh Grammar’s Round Square IDEALS and HARK values of Humility, Aspiration, Respect and Kindness, reinforcing the importance of individual contribution, collaboration and belonging.

The celebration assembly brought together students and staff from across the School and featured a series of musical performances, community reflections and presentations highlighting the story behind the project.

A special guest at the celebration was George Petrou OAM, acclaimed graphic designer and portrait artist and a long-standing friend of Oakleigh Grammar. Mr Petrou has exhibited his work internationally and has created portraits displayed in prestigious institutions across Australia and overseas. He was also Oakleigh Grammar’s Artist in Residence in 2022, working with students as part of a creative learning program.

The event culminated in the official unveiling of the completed mural, marking the moment when hundreds of individual pieces came together as one shared artwork.

Oakleigh Grammar Principal Mark Robertson said the mural captured the spirit of the School and the importance of every individual within its community.

“We are proud to celebrate this wonderful communal collaboration that culminated in a lasting visual arts legacy from the 2026 Oakleigh Grammar cohort. This beautiful tile mural is a celebration of shared identity, belonging and community.” 

The completed mural will now take its place as a permanent feature of the Oakleigh Grammar campus, providing a visual reminder for current and future students of the community they belong to and the contribution they can make.

More than a collection of individual tiles, the mural represents a community coming together to create something greater than itself - a shared environment, a shared story and a lasting legacy for generations of Oakleigh Grammar students to come.