zoo is part of Rosenthal's senior project, one of many unique ideas being pursued by graduating seniors at MetWest High School.

Bamboo and palm fronds are the main materials that Rosenthal uses to make shade structures for the lemurs. He got the idea for the structures after he noticed that lemurs were running and hiding

from birds that would fly over their habitat.

Unfortunately that meant visitors weren't able to see the lemurs either. But that's changed. "The shade structures are currently working," said Rosenthal.

"Lemurs are using (them) to eat their food, and then they relax under (the) structures." 

Senior projects are a graduation requirement in the Oakland Unified School District. Yet the projects aren't very popular in some Oakland schools. Some students feel that senior projects are too much work; some copy and paste from different Web sites in order to produce their senior thesis.

At MetWest however, students, teachers and advisers connect over a theme of oppression and liberation — every project deals with this theme in some way, and students say that it makes the projects more meaningful.

For Rafael Perez, liberation means freedom to be a fashion designer and use his imagination.

On May 9, Perez held a runway show at the Malanga Center in Oakland, featuring his "Piafia Collection," inspired by the culture of Egypt.

"It means a lot to me because it's the life that I

want to pursue," said Perez, of his senior project and show. "Fashion design has become a part of my life and passion, and I want to make a name for myself in the fashion industry." Perez plans to study fashion design at the College of Alameda.

Other seniors at MetWest organized a health

fair, created a sex-education class curriculum, and made documentaries on stories of immigrants and high school dropouts.