An emotional school service has been held for a girl allegedly killed by her mother, with hundreds of mourners paying tribute to the 10-year-old.

Students, staff and families at Gold Coast’s Emmanuel College gathered to remember Sophie Wang on Friday morning after the community was left reeling by the tragedy.

Floral tributes have also been laid at Sophie’s home, just a few streets from her Carrara school, and a candlelight vigil has been organised for Friday afternoon amid a public outpouring of grief for the year five student.

Her father Yun Wang could reportedly be heard by neighbours screaming after discovering Sophie at their Emerald Lakes home in Carrara on Tuesday night.

She was declared dead at the “incredibly confronting” scene. Her 46-year-old mother, Yingying Xu, was arrested in a nearby street hours later and charged with murder.

Students and parents were invited to bring flowers to Friday’s chapel service at Emmanuel College. As hundreds of people arrived, the chapel could not accommodate all the mourners, and the service was also broadcast outside.

Flowers and messages were left at a makeshift memorial at the school. Students wrote tributes for Sophie in bright-coloured markers.

“You have touched everyone’s hearts and you won’t be forgotten,” one student wrote.

Another said the whole school was thinking of her.

“Your laugh was so beautiful, your heart was so kind,” it read.

“You’re on everyone’s mind.”

An emotional Emmanuel College principal Dan Brown said the young girl’s legacy and memory would continue.

“She will be remembered as a bright, intelligent, thoughtful…girl that loved her academics, loved reading,” he said.

“She also loved to sing and she was caring and compassionate and was a really great friend – those memories will live on.”

Brown said he was feeling “complete devastation” before confirming the school had offered counselling to students, staff and parents.

“They have shown incredible respect, character and strength for this particular tragedy,” he said of his staff and students’ response to the tragedy.

“They wrapped their hands around each other.

“I would also like to express, on behalf of the school, my deepest gratitude to the broader community for their well-wishes.”

People have also been asked to gather and remember Sophie at the hour-long candlelight vigil at The Boulevard, Emerald Lakes, from 4pm on Friday.

“The incident on the Gold Coast is just heartbreaking” Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said.

“These sorts of events really do impact the entire community.”

The community is also rallying around Sophie’s father, who is a respected academic. Wang is an associate professor in chemistry and forensic science at Griffith University.

His wife Xu was remanded in custody after her case came before Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday. She will next appear in court on November 29.

Police said they were continuing to investigate the motive of the alleged homicide, including Xu’s social media activity. In court on Wednesday, prosecutors refused to say whether mental health issues might have had a role in the alleged murder.

– with AAP