Hanover — Several Upper Valley schools canceled classes and events today after a series of power outages left classrooms in the dark.

Both the Bernice A. Ray School and Frances Richmond Middle School in Hanover were closed when a transformer blew during the morning bus run, according to a notice from Dresden Superintendent Jay Badams.

Students who arrived at the school could either be picked up by parents and guardians, or school staff would “keep them safe and engaged for the day” before buses arrive in the afternoon, Badams wrote.

“We apologize for this morning’s confusion, and assure you that we will be working to improve our response to this sort of event in the future,” he said in the notice. 

Meanwhile, the Rivendell Interstate School District also canceled school after power outages in the Orford area left two of the district’s three schools without power or phones.

Educators were calling families this morning asking they come to pick up students, Westshire Elementary School Principal Julie Donahue wrote in a Facebook post.