ACSL

American Computer Science League

Newsletter #2

February 2009

CONTEST #2
The results for Contest #2 are now posted on our web site www.acsl.org. It is very important that the results of Contest #3 be reported in a timely manner. Most teams will get the invitation to the All_Star Contest based upon Contest #3 scores. The end date for Contest #3 is March 13th. There is a need for some other student programs in addition to those listed on our web site. If one of your students has a correct program written in one of the languages not listed, we would like to post it. Please send the file to info@acsl.org.

The details for attending the All-Star Contest will be posted shortly.

ACSL WEB SITE

The scores for Contest #1 for both teams and individuals are posted on our web site www.acsl.org. . If you note a missing score, an incorrect score or a misspelled name, please contact ACSL at info@acsl.org and we will make the corrections. Also note that due to bad weather across the USA near the contest deadline that several scores are missing. Those scores will be posted on a weekly basis during January 2009. It is our hope that all scores will be posted prior to the start of Contest #2.

APPEALS

There were no valid appeals in any of the divisions for Contest #2

STUDENT PROGRAMS

Students, their parents and advisors like to see their student's programs posted to our web site. To insure that a program has a chance for selection, prior to submitting the code for those students who scored a 10, please insure that the following information is in the heading of the code:

· The student’s name

· The school name

· The student’s division

SCORESHEETS

Please use the ACSL scoresheet when submitting scores. Send it as an attached .doc file and not pasted into the body of the e-mail message. The uniformity of score sheets decreases the number of entry errors. Also, Starting with Contest #2 you need to record cumulative scores for both team scores and individual student scores on all scoresheets. The cumulative score acts as a double check that scores have been recorded accurately. Remember that scoresheets are sent to scores@acsl.org.

ALL-STAR CONTEST

The site of the 2009 ACSL Invitational All-Star Contest is Bob Jones High School, Madison Alabama. The school, with a student count of 2,200, is just southwest of Huntsville, Alabama. Huntsville is home to the US Space and Rocket Center, Space Camp and NASA. The University of Alabama Huntsville is also close to the school. The host school advisor, Jennifer Roundtree ( jsrountree@madisoncity.k12.al.us) is in the process of arranging for all All-star attendees, who request it, to stay in campus housing at the University of Alabama at a cost of about $20 per person per night. Teams that do not want to use the campus housing can book their own hotel reservations at any of the many hotels in the area.

The school is a 15 minute drive from the Huntsville Airport (HSV) and a 30 minute drive from the university. There will also be bus transportation from the university to the school. More details and contact information will be published as they become available.

The contest date is Saturday, May 23, 2009. The All-star Contest starts at 8:30 AM and ends at approximately 5:30 PM. Lunch is provided at the contest site. Breakfast is not available.

For the past 15 years ACSL has used the same travel agent to find the best group rates at hotels close to our Al-Star Contest sites. Elana Glinert has done an excellent job of getting ACSL the best prices available. The staff that runs ACSL has used Elana for personal travel also. If you are in need of a travel agent to assist in any of your All-star Contest plans, we highly recommend her services. Elana can be contacted by e-mail:

travelbyelana@hotmail.com

ALL-STAR CONTEST COMPUTERS

The agreement with only allows for a limited number of computers. The vast majority of those will go to the teams coming from Europe. Teams should plan to supply their own computers this year. Please start planning now to insure that your invited teams will have computers.

GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS

ACSL has grouped the teams in the various divisions into geographic regions. The purpose of the regions is to create more places where ACSL can award prizes. The highest scoring team in each region will be awarded a plaque. The highest scoring student (s) in each region will also be awarded a plaque. In the event of ties, duplicate awards will be made. Most of the above awards will be presented at the All-star Contest in May. Plaques will be mailed to those not present. The regions are now posted to the web site in the georegions link.