New puppy and school starts Monday?

This is my first post and I hope to be an active participant. I lost my 15 year old Jack Russell 'Coach' a month ago and my daughter was heart broken. I really tried to wait until next summer to get a puppy but she seemed to need a new focus so I broke down and got a puppy this week ... And boy is she a sweetie.

Kate, my ten year old daughter, and I went to the library, she did additional research on the Internet and she gave me a list of 5 dog breeds she was interested in.

We brought home a runt female Australian Shepard two days ago and we couldn't be happier. 'Little Bear' named after the tv show character that my 4 year old likes, as well as the fact that we had a mother Black Bear in our front yard the day we brought her home, is trying so hard to be a good puppy. She has not had an accident in the house and has slept through the night in her crate.

I know this message is too long so in the future when I have questions I will stay on point ... Here is my concern and where I am seeking advice.

1. I know about the demands of this breed, high energy, intelligent, herder, etc... So I really am looking for advice in keeping her busy when we start school.

2. She really seems to like being outside ... I have a fenced in area with an in the ground swimming pool, grass, and deck ... I would like to leave her outside on days when the weather is not an issue but I am concerned about her being by a pool unsupervised. I do have a large garage where she could stay and a play house shed if
the first option is considered too dangerous. I'm looking for advice.

3. Little Bear will be home by herself from 8 until 3:30. She already travels with the family to soccer games and I plan to take her to nearly every evening event. I certainly wish I could have had the whole summer to train her but I am well aware of what I face (it was 15 years ago that I worked with a high energy Jack). I anticipate the help that members are willing to supply on the forum.

sincerely,
Doug