Students at Rogers Park's Joyce Kilmer Elementary jumped into each other's arms this morning after a week away from their friends and teachers, following the closure of the school due to swine flu.

The exubrant greetings came as officials reopened the school today, pledging to get back to work while preaching vigilance against the H1N1 flu virus and other bacteria.

"We're now back to writing, back to instruction and back to routine," said Kilmer principal Miguel Trujilo, at a press conference this morning at the school, at 6700 N. Greenview.

Students say they've missed going to school, and not just because they like to learn.

"We've been bored," said 2nd grader Inaara Sultanali, 8.

"It was depriving us of our education," said Jordan Williams, 11, a 5th grader. "Some people had perfect attendance until this happened."

But worries about swine flu remain. While students say they're adhering to safey guidelines mapped out by health officials - covering their coughs and sneezes, eating well and washing their hands - they are wary of the virus, which sickened a 12-year-old sixth-grader last week.

"I'm kind of worried, because I'm in sixth grade," said Rukshar Sultanali, 12. Her classmate has recovered from the virus, and will return to school next week, Chicago Public Schools CEO Ron Huberman said.

“After consulting with experts, we have determined that it is safe and appropriate that we reopen Kilmer,” Huberman said in a statement. “Our response to this situation from the beginning has been to take all necessary precaution, and it is an approach we will continue to take going forward. In the case of Kilmer, the time is now right for its students to safely return to their routine.”

In all, Huberman said 132 CPS students have exhibited symptoms that mirror swine flu.

In all, 93 cases have been confirmed in Chicago, among the 225 swine flu cases confirmed statewide.

Yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended new guidelines for school closures, leaving the decision to close schools up to school leaders. Students or teachers exhibiting signs of the illness should go home.

CPS' new guidelines state that any student with a temperature of 100 degrees or more will be sent home, and not return to school for several days.

Health officials continue to watch the virus closely. A team from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention arrived in Chicago yesterday to monitor its affect on Chicagoland, and will meet with Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Terry Mason later today.

"We're treating this much like a second flu season," Mason said.

At Kilmer, officials said the school was scrubbed down and fitted with numerous bottles of hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer is being distributed to all CPS schools.