A disturbing incident at an Ellis High School home volleyball game on October 9 has sparked outrage after a senior from Thomas More Prep Marian, attending as a visitor, faced targeted harassment from the Ellis student section.
Heather Schumacher, the girl’s mother, publicly addressed the school and community after her daughter became the focus of hurtful chants and verbal taunts.
During the game, Ellis students chanted, “Old 40 accident,” referencing a serious accident the girl had experienced weeks earlier.
“While this may seem minor to some, it was deeply hurtful and reopened emotional wounds,” Schumacher said.
She emphasized that the chants were not random but personal attacks aimed at her daughter, which affected her mental health.
Additional chants included “smells like fish” and “TMPenis,” directed toward Schumacher’s daughter and her teammates.
Despite the presence of Ellis faculty, staff, and parents in the stands, no one intervened to stop the harassment.
Following the game, referees apologized to the visiting team—a gesture Schumacher called appreciated but unnecessary had proper supervision occurred.
Schumacher said she contacted members of the Ellis school board, only to be told the principal was “not concerned” because she was seen as a disgruntled former parent.
She and her husband, Corey, had previously withdrawn their children from the district due to similar issues, citing an environment that felt unsafe and unsupportive.
“This recent incident shows that little has changed,” Schumacher said.
“No student—whether from this district or another—should ever be made to feel targeted, harassed, or humiliated in a school setting that should promote respect, sportsmanship, and integrity.”
Facebook
Community members and parents expressed widespread support for Schumacher’s daughter online.
Many described the harassment as “disgusting” and condemned the school administration for failing to intervene.
Commenters highlighted that such behavior should never be tolerated and called for accountability from both students and school officials.
Jill Shumaker, a community member, said,
“Absolutely sickening in today’s world that this was allowed and is being dismissed. Those students should have been shut down on the spot and removed from the gym. The administration should be embarrassed and held accountable for allowing it to continue.”
Facebook
Schumacher urged the Ellis school district to address the situation seriously to ensure all students, regardless of school affiliation, feel safe and respected. She said,
“After meeting with school administration, I have zero faith because I felt like a joke. I was told, ‘we cannot control what our students in the student section say or do.’ If you are on the fence about leaving, my advice is to do it—I promise it is the best choice for your children.”
Facebook
The incident has raised broader concerns about school culture, supervision at sporting events, and accountability for student behavior, prompting calls for systemic change in the Ellis district.
